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hM$ of Dqcle j[oi]a? LaWrfence 

UPON 

A PARTIAL EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTHERN, CENTRAL, 

WESTERN NEW YORK, AND NORTHERN AND 

NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, 

COIVIPRISING 

Counties of Chemung, Tioga, Tompkins, Broome, Chenango, Cortland, 
Cayuga, Seneca, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates, Ontario, Allegany, Cattarau- 
gus, Monroe, Chautauqua, Orleans, Bradford, Northumberland, Tioga, 
Lycoming, Potter and McKean, giving descriptions of old time 
customs, hunting and fishing, raisings^ political campaigns, 
etc., together with descriptions of mountain scenery, coal 
mines, canals, railroads, villages, towns, cities 
and many other interesting reminiscences. 



Among the Railroads described are the New York, Lake Erie and Western, 
with the Tioga Branch ; the Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim ; the 
Syracuse, Geneva and Corning ; the Jersey Shore and Pine Creek ; 
the Northern Central ; the Lehigh Valley ; the Delaware, Lacka- 
wanna and Western ; the Elmira, Cortland and Northern ; 
Addison and Northern Penn'a, and the Southern Central. 



This is one of the most valuable and interesting route and sketch books 
ever offered to the public and is presented gratis to the subscribers of the 
Elmira Weekly Advertiser. 



.J 



fiz^i 



Entered according to A(fl af Congress in the year 1886, by the ELMIRA ADVERTISER 
ASSOCIATION, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 






NOTK. 

Seventy-five years ago Jonas Lawrence was born in the village 
of Newtown, now the city of Elmira. He grew to manhood in the 
little hamlet on the banks of the Chemung, was educated in the 
schools of that day and at a suitable age entered into active bus- 
iness as a merchant, lumber dealer, grain dealer and shipper. His 
business brought him in contact with the citizens of Newtown and all 
the surrounding country and gave him a very extensive acquaintance 
up and down the Chemung river, north to the head of the Seneca 
lake, and northeast to Owego, Spencer, Ithaca, Binghamk»n, and 
westward to Big Flats, Painted Post, Bath, Addison and Hornells- 
ville, and southward up Seely creek, across the Pennsylvania hue 
to Burlington, Troy, Alba, Canton and Williamsport, and also on 
the Tioga river at Lawrence ville, Willardsburg (now Tioga) and 
upon the Cowanesque at Beecher's island, Elkland, Deerfleld, Knox- 
ville and Westfield. 

Jonas L^vWrence took an active part in agitating the construction 
of the Chemung canal and witnessed its completion. He also was 
a warm friend and advocate of the construction of the New York 
and Erie railroad in the years 1839 and 1840, and took a great 
interest in its construction, which commenced in the valley of the 
Chemung in the year 1840. But when the company failed in 1841, 
and work ceased and the whole country was in a state of bank- 
ruptcy, Jonas Lawrence closed up his business as best he could, 
making large sacrifices, took a few hundred dollars and turned his 
face towards the west. The farm-lands of Ohio and lUinois were 
then the objective points towards which the people of the east were 
directing their attention. Mr. Lawrence went to Ohio and remained 
there temporarily and from thence to Illinois, settling in the 
outskirts of Chicago, then a mere village, and purchasing a quar- 
ter section of land. For a few years he and his family struggled 
against malaria and adverse circumstances ; but the tide eventually 
turned in their favor. Chicago commenced to increase in popula- 
tion and become a more central point. Every year the possessions 
of Mr. Lawrence became more valuable. Chicago spread out wider 
and wider and continued to lay deeper and deeper the foundation 
of her present and future prosperity. Although Uncle Jonas, as 
he is now familiarly called, generally prospered, still there were 
"times in his history when the financial shadows cast a cloud over 
his affairs. But he was successful upon the whole. Plis wife, 
Harriet, about five years ago, was laid tenderly to rest in the silent 
tomb. His children were married, the older ones many years ago, 
and grand children have come, in whose young life the venerable man 
renews his youth. His nephew resided with him many years and 
called him Uncle Jonas, and thus was that title bestowed upon him. 
Uncle Jonas is now in his seventy- fifth year, hale, hearty and 
strong. Age sits iightly upon his person, and with a memory re- 
markable for one of his years, he can revert to the inhabitants who 



IV 



dwelt in and about Elmira fifty or sixty years ago with almost 
unerring accuracy. He came to Elmira not long ago to spend a 
few months in the home of his childhood, look over familiar 
grounds, search for old acquaintances, and mark the changes that 
have taken place in southern New York and northern Pennsylva- 
nia. He is comfortably ensconced in the home cf one of our best 
citizens on West Water street, who has promised to spend several 
months with him in driving our principal streets, country roads, 
and visiting villages and towns in the surrounding country. The 
readers of the Advertiser will therefore permit us without further 
ceremony to introduce to them Uncle Jonas Lawrence, a former 
honored citizen of Elmira, one of the early business men of this 
vaUey, "who has come among them to make their acquaintance and 
to talk over bygones in a friendly manner. His friend, Harry 
Sampson, needs no introduction. He will usually accompany Uncle 
Jonas in his walks and drives and assist him in locating the homes 
of his old-time friends and imparting such information concerning 
them as we hope will prove interesting to the readers of the Adver- 
tiser. 



Letters of Uncle Jonas Lawrence. 



RAMBLES ABOUT ELMIRA. 



-.SOME OP THE EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR WORKS. — CHANGES AND 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

"This, Uncle Jonas, is the corner of Lake street and Water 
street, the place you said you wanted to be directed to." "Oh, 
yes, Harry. Well, in my first recollection of these corners, William 
Dunn, father of the Dunn boys, Charles, James and William, kept 
a tavern on that corner. He had formerly resided in Bath, and 
was the first sheriff of Steuben county in 1796. He went to Bath 
under the auspices of General Williamson, and was appointed 
sheriff when Steuben county was organized from Ontario. He 
came to Newtown about the year 1800 and built the first grist mill 
in Newtown, and about the year 1804 opened a tavern on that 
corner. After his death his widow married the late John Davis, 
and the stand thereafter was known as the John Davis stand. 
When I left here, Harry, it was still occupied as a tavern, and one 
of the most popular in the village. Where that fine structure is 
now, on the opposite corner, John Arnot occupied a brick store, 
and was engaged in selhng goods, although he was quite a large 
stockholder in the Chemung Canal bank, which was established 
soon af r ihe completion of the Chemung canal. The Hon. John 
Gr. McDowell, of Chemung, I think, was the president of the insti- 
tution and the Hon. WiUiam Maxwell cashier. Harry, I recollect 
well when tho bridge across the river was first built." " There has 
b3en three bridges here, Uncle Jonas. The one you refer to was 
rebuilt about the year 1845, and that one was replaced by the 
pre !>nt structure a few years ago." "Oh, yes, so I have been 
told Well, Harry," continued Uncle Jonas, "down the river, 
belo w the bridge, Miles Covell had a store and shipping dock. He 
and his brother Lyman Covell, were formerly associated in the 
mercantile business. But they dissolved partnership and Miles 
continued the old store, where WiUiam Eoberts is now located, and 
Lyman opened a store next to John Arnot, on Water street. I 
see Harry, that the old Chemung Canal bank building is still oc- 
cupied." "Yes, Uncle Jonas, soon after you left Elmira, John 
Arnot got the control of the institution, placed it upon a sound and 
-reliable financial foundation and continued the principal owner of 



its stock until the time of his death in November, 1873. He be- 
came one of the most prominent financiers in southern New York^ 
and was largely interested in the New York and Erie raih-oad, hav- 
ing with him four other gentlemen : John Magee, Constant Cook, 
Charles Cook, I. S. Stranahan, who built the road from Bingham- 
ton to Hornellsville, in the years 1848-9-50. He also constructed 
the Junction Canal from Elmira, connecting with the North Branch 
canal at Athens, and was largely interested in real estate in Elmira 
and in coal mines at Arnot, in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and 
elsewhere. He left the care and management of his very large 
estate to his sons, Stephen, John, jr., and Mathias, who have added 
to their patrimony." "Yes, yes, Harry, I recollect him well, also 
his father-in-law, the late Stephen Tuttle." "Your old friend 
Lyman Covell,* Uncle Jonas, still lives at the advanced age of 
ninety-two." " Is that possible, Harry? I remember him as one 
of the most energetic business men in all this country. Quick and 
impulsive, but with a kind and warm heart. Before I return I 
must call on him. But let us walk up to the old stand of E. Jones^ 
I want to see how it looks up there. We will take it slow, for I 
want to witness the changes. Well, the old Mechanics' hall I see 
has been replaced ; in fact there is not a single building standing 
here now that was here when I left. Over yonder where that 
large four-story building is located was the site of Colonel WiUiam 
R, Judson's harness shop ; the opera house stands on the site of 
the John Arnot foundry. Miles Cook's grocery has vanished also. 
Here! whose magnificent building is this? John M, Eobinson's, I'm 
glad to see ! Here used to stand a low wooden building. What, 
does this mean, Harry ? Here is where Elijah Jones used to hold 
forth in the Mansion house. The Advertiser association, is it ? 
WeU, that's good." "Let us rest here a moment. Uncle Jonas, on 
these cast iron lions, and I will give you a brief history of this 
place since you left Elmira forty -four years ago." 

THE OLD HOTEL CORNER — MASONIC REMINISCENCES. 

"After you left Elmira, Uncle Jonas, your old friend, E. Jones, 
kept the hotel for several years, entertaining some of the most dis- 
tinguished lawyers and jurists in the state, as well as many others 
less distinguished. He was succeeded by Silas Haight and Mathew 
McR. Sly, who enlarged the building and made many improvements. 
After a few months this hotel was destroyed by fire and upon the 
same site this building was erected by a stock company, consisting 
of such gentlemen as the late WiUiam Maxwell, Samuel G. Hath- 
away, Jr., Silas Haight, William T. Reeder and others, and Silas 
Haight and WiUiam T. Reeder instaUed as landlords. You must 
recollect Silas Haight, Uncle Jonas?" "Oh, yes, Harry, I recollect 
him as a merchant, hotel-keeper, superintendent of the Chemung 
canal, an energetic business man." "Mr. Reeder, Uncle Jonas, was 
a son of one of your old Big Flats friends, the late WilUam H. 
Reeder. He was for many years constable and coUector in the 
town of Big Flats, canal coUector at Horseheads, deputy sheriff and 
sheriff of Chemung county. Messrs. Haight and Reeder purchased; 
a majority of the stock and controUed the house for several years, 

* Since tlie above was written the venerable citizen has died. 



making it one of the most popular hotels in the southern tier. They 
finally sold out their interests to Col. Samuel G. Hathaway, jr., 
and it was for some time known as the Hathaway house and con- 
sidered as the headquarters of the democracy of the city and 
county. The Hon. John G. McDowell, presented the ship of state 
you see suspended in the vestibule, to the house, and where it has 
since remained. The Advertiser association is the outgrowth of 
the Advertiser founded by the late Charles G. Fairman, in the year 
1853. It has increased in strength and usefulness, merging into a 
strong financial stock association, known as the ^duer^iser associa- 
tion in the year 1870, which now owns the entire building. At 
some future time Uncle Jonas, I will give more extended history 
of the Advertiser. ^^ 

"What building is that on the corner, where Riggs Watrous and 
Daniel Stephens formerly had a blacksmith shop ?" 

" That Uncle Jonas, is the Masonic temple. The corner stone 
was laid with masonic ceremonies, September 5th, 1878. There 
were present : Chnton F. Paige, grand master of the masonic frater- 
nity of the state ; C. N. Shipman, deputy grand master ; John D. 
Williams, grand warden ; Sutherland Dewitt, grand junior warden; 
F. A. Phillips, grand treasm-er ; Griff D. Palmer, grand secretary; 
W. P. Burdick, grand senior deacon ; Stephen McDonald, grand 
junior deacon ; P. D. Ramsdell, grand steward ; Cyrus Barlow, 
grand steward, and Brother E. A. Swan, representative for the 
grand architect ; the Rev. George H. McKnight, grand chaplain. 
Addresses were made on that occasion by the Rev. George H. 
McKnight and Jesse L. Cooley. Those who were largely instru- 
mental in bringing this matter to a successful issue were Jesse L. 
Cooley, son of Levi J. Cooley ; John D. Williams, son of your 
friend William Williams, the tanner, and Sutherland Dewitt, 
Maurice Levy and Chauncey Shipman. In about a year thereafter 
the temple was completed and dedicated." 

" Speaking of masonry, Harry, reminds me of my initiation in 
the year 1832. Old Newtown lodge had suspended operations in the 
year 1828 by reason of the Morgan excitement. At Big Flats there 
was a masonic lodge in working order, or working under special 
dispensation. The place of meeting was kept a profound secret 
for many years. The lodge room was in the garret of Captain 
George Gardiner's inn. The members at Big Flats that I recollect 
were George Gardiner, Abram Bennett, John Huey, Isaac Wat- 
rous, Henry McCormick, Abram McCormick, Erastus Beard, Nich- 
olas Winans, Charles Reynolds, Orange Chapman. It was arranged 
that we should have a sleighing party and quietly invite some of 
our Elmira friends, among whom were the late Thomas Maxwell, 
and go up to Big Flats. 

The night was one of the most bitterly cold nights that had been 
known in many years. However, reinforced by some of John 
Davis's best, we set out, but as we crossed the Sing Sing creek near 
the David Reynold's farm, the wind came down the valley from 
the northwest with such fury that we were obUged to turn in and 
seek shelter with our Pennsylvania German friend, David Van 
Gorder. A brisk fire was blazing in the old-fashioned fire place, 
which soon melted the frost from our whiskers and faces. Uncle 



David brought in some cider and red pepper, and after refreshing 
ourselves with the cider and eating a half-dozen doughnuts and a 
half circle of mince pie each, we bade our worthy host good night 
and reached Captain Gardiner's in a few minutes. 

A number of the townsmen were sitting in the bar room, and 
some of them were outspoken anti-masons, and all due circumspec- 
tion was required in order not to betray the object of our meetmg. 
A side issue was planned immediately. One of the leading anti- 
masons was very fond of raffling for turkeys and chickens. The 
captain ordered his colored man to take a half-dozen chickens and 
a few turkeys and go down to Benjamin Farwell's cabinet shop 
and announce "a raffle," instructing him to call into the bar room 
with his poultry before going to the shop. The colored man was 
in his element, and was enthusiastic in his work. In less than ten 
minutes he rushed into the bar room with a fluttering, squawking 
lot of poultry and announced a raffle, " seven pennies in the pot, 
three shakes for six pence, and de most heads win de rooster." 
This announcement had the desired result. The bar room was 
soon cleared, and, one by one, we escaped to the garret or lodge 
room. We, I say, but I mean that all my friends went, and left 
me sitting solitary and alone in the bar room. They had gone be- 
fore me, to get the gridiron good and hot. After waiting for about 
ten minutes I was invited up stairs. I noticed that my friend was 
armed with a long sword, which came down nearly to the floor, 
and that he had to raise it up to keep it from hitting the steps as 
we ascended. At last we reached the garret, and I was suitably 
prepared and made my entrance, and took the entered apprentice 
degree, when we took some refreshments. I was again prepared 
and was given the fellowcraft degree, when more refreshments 
followed. The brethren then urged me to summon all of my for- 
titude for the grand finale. An extra refreshment was taken, upon 
the strength of that information, and I was ready for the master's 
degree. My friends entered into the spirit of the work before them 
and I presume no other man had in years gone through with a 
more impressive ceremon3\ A supper followed in the dining room 
below, and we were just sitting down to the table, when the anti 
masons returned from the raffle loaded with poultry. We gave 
them an invitation to join us, which some of them accepted, little 
dreaming that we had been engaged in the business of making free 
masons. Had our business been known, we would have been 
accused of every vile action, and inin the chance of having been 
mobbed before we left the village. But Tommy Maxwell adroitly 
turned the topic of conversation to raffling, shooting matches, fox 
and deer hunts, which occupied our time at the table. The chief 
anti-mason had been very successful as a " rg-ffler," and our party 
purchased his booty for one dollar and a half. And as we were 
driving off, he caUed out to us, that when we came again he would 
try and get up another raffle for our benefit. Well, Harry, this 
may not interest you much now in these days, when it is no dis- 
grace, but an honor, to be a free mason, but fifty years ago no such 
magnificent temple would have been permitted to have been erected 
by thQ free masons of this state. 

Let us stroll along up the Lake road or Lake street, I should 



9 

liave said. I see new buildings have been erected on the site of 
the court house and county clerk's office. Well, Harry, we will 
talk about them at some future time. Yes ; here is the residence 
of the late John Arnot. I remember well when it was built. By 
some it was thought that Mr. Arnot made a mistake in erecting so 
fine a residence so far up town. That seems highly absurd now 
but you see fifty years ago nobody expected to see Newtown, El- 
mira, a city, A few predicted it but we thought they were vision- 
ary. When the Chemung canal was completed in 1833, we thought 
Elmira would then grow into a city in a few years. But I waited 
eight years and it only took a spasmodic spring even after the 
county was formed in 1836, and Elmira chosen as the county seat, 
in preference, to the rival claim of our neighboring village of Horse- 
heads, now North Elmira. I tell you, Harry, that was a big fight 
between Horseheads and Elmira for the county seat of Chemung 
county. But we out-generaled them. The Westlakes, Bentleys, 
Conkhns, Sayres, Jacksons, of Horseheads, were no mean adver- 
saries. Then they had the help of such men as William Bentley, 
John Dean, Jabez Bradley, Elijah Sexton, Sylvester Sexton, Syl- 
vander Sexton, Daniel Parsons, Erastus Crandall, Doctor Seaman, 
of Veteran, and Charles Cook, Guy Hinman, Elijah Hinman, Wil- 
liam Skellinger, Dr. Watkins and others of Catharine, Hiram 
White of Cayuta, the Crawfords, and Green and Charlie Bennett, 
of Dix. The indifference of Catlin and Big Flats was all that saved 
us. I tell you, Harry, it was a close thing. Horseheads, I am 
told, still maintains her position as the political center of the county, 
where all conventions are held. "Yes, that is so, Uncle Jonas'. 
But they surrendered gracefuUy to us last winter, when they con- 
sented to obliterate the name of Horseheads and substitute North 
Elmira." "Here is the residence. Uncle Jonas, of the late David H. 
Tuthil, you must remember him." 

"Certainly, Harry, certainly. He was a merchant engaged in 
selling general merchandise. His place of business was on Water 
street. At one time he had associated with him B. C. Wickham, 
who subsequently located at WiUiardsburg, now Tioga, in Penn- 
sylvania. Mr. Tuthill had the confidence of the business men of 
Elmira and the inhabitants of the surrounding country to as great 
an extent, as any man who lived in Elmira during the thirty years 
that I resided here. But what street is this, Harry ?,, 

"This is Church street." 

"Oh, yes. Whose elegant residence is that over the way ?" 
*'That is the residence of Stephen T. Reynolds. He is the son of 
the late Charles Reynolds, of Big Flats." "Oh, yes. I knew 
Charles Reynolds well. He was a very enterprising business man 
at Big Flats many years ago. He died in the prime of hfe in 
March, 1837. 

Suppose we take a street car and go home. We can go down 
Lake to Water, up Water to Main and then we wiU have only a 
few steps to walk." 

"Nonsense, Harry, We can go up Church street and out to Main, 
as you call it, in less time than we are talking about it, besides I 
am not fatigued in the least." "Just as you say, Uncle Jonas. 
But we wont stop to make any observations on the way. Here is 



10 

the First Presbyterian church." "This, I see, has kept pace with 
the progress of Elmira. This congregation or church, Harry, was 
instituted as early as 1795. Its a noble structure now. And this 
is Baldwin street. Over there hves your old friend Solomon 
L. Gillett." "Is that so. Well, I shall have to call on him at the 
first opportunity I have." "This is Raih'oad avenue. Look out, 
uncle, yonder comes the Lehigh train. There are four railroads 
using these tracks, the New York, Lake Erie & Western, the 
Lehigh Valley, the Northern Central and the Tioga & Elmira 
State Line." "Harry, on this corner there was, when I left El- 
mira an Episcopal church, but I see it is turned into a foundry and 
boiler maufactory, owned by Reid & Cooper." 

"That nice cosy httle brick on the opposite corner is owned by the 
Young Men's Railway Christian Association, one of the very best 
associations in Elmira. Some day we will drop in and look it over. 
This is the Baptist church, and this park or lawn is where the old 
Elmira grave yard was. The bodies have been removed." "Oh, 
yes, Harry, I recollect this weU. Here was where some of the first 
citizens of Elmira were buried." "This building on the opposite 
side of the street is a memorial erected by one of the late John 
Arnot's daughters. The church on the corner is an Episcopal church. 
That massive structure of stone out yonder is Park Church. The 
Rev. Thomas K. Beecher is the pastor of this church. I teU you 
Uncle Jonas, there are a great many interesting places in Elmira 
which we must visit, and then if you desire we will go out into the 
country and drive over aU the old haunts you used to be familiar 
with." "Well, weU, Harry, I am thoroughly in earnest in this bus- 
iness. I do not want to do too much in one day, so long as I have 
months before me, but I came here to enjoy myself in this way in- 
stead of going to the sea shore or some fashionable watering place, 
and I am enjoing it very much. What did you say this was Har- 
ry ?" "This is Main Street, Uncle Jonas." "Oh, yes, I see. This is 
what we used to caU the "back road" to Horseheads, that went up 
pastCoveU's,Wisner's, McCann's, Suffern's, Rockwell's, andMcCon- 
neU's. When I was a boy, Harry, the deer would come into the 
wheat fields along the road and frequently you could hear the wolves 
howl up on the hill west of Wisner's." 

"Suppose we turn down Main street to Water street. Uncle Jonas." 
"Just as you say Harry. I recognize this corner as being the spot 
where Judge Theodore North's residence formerly stood. When I 
was a young man, Judge North's residence, although composed of 
wood was thought to be one of the most elegant dwellings in the 
village. Now a huge pile of brick occupies its place. What ! is 
that a bridge across the river ?" "Yes, Uncle Jonas, that is caUed 
the Main street bridge — and free, too." "Harry this is a great im- 
provement, I assure you." 



11 

ELMIRA'S DEVELOPMENT. 



THE GREAT BENEFIT CONFERRED BY RAILROADS — HISTORY OF THEIR 

GROWTH. 

"It is raining, Uncle Jonas, and we can't go out this afternoon, 
and that will give me an opportunity of answering your question 
at the dinner table : 'What was the chief cause in the develop- 
ment of Elmira into a city V My answer to that question. Uncle 
Jonas, is briefly, railroads ; and I will tell you why and give you a 
short history of their construction. You will bear in mind that 
the Erie raikoad was chartered April 24, 1832, and opened from 
Piermont to Goshen nine years after, or in the year ISil. You re- 
sided here in Elmira in 1 840, when the company undertook to 
construct the road from Goshen to Erie simultaneously upon piles 
driven into the ground and timbers to be placed upon them and 
held together by cross-ties, the state guaranteeing their bonds to 
tne amount of !^3,00(),000. You recollect how each county through 
which the proposed line of railroad would pass insisted that the 
money should be expended in those counties, because their repre- 
sentatives had been instrumantal in securing the appropriation or 
the endorsement of the bonds of the company, and how instead of 
commencing the road and expending their own money and that 
which the state had given them, in completing the road section by 
section in one continuous chain, that the company spread their 
money over the entire road from Piermont to Erie, and only had 
a few miles of road completed and in running order, when the 
money was exhausted, the road uncompleted and the company 
bankrupt. 

That Uncle Jonas, you recollect, was the condition in which the 
affairs of the Erie company were in when you left Elmira in the 
year 1841. It was a matter in which the people of the southern 
tier of counties of New York and the northern counties of Penn- 
sylvania were deeply interested. The southern tier counties in 
New York were more personally interested, but the citizens of 
Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter, McKean, Warren and Erie 
counties of Pennsylvania, would be materially benefited by the 
construction of the road, for it would have a tendency to open up 
an eastern market for their lumber and coal. After several years 
of financiering the railroad company was reorganized and a new 
set of men controlled the management of affairs. As I told you 
this morning, the late John Arnot, of Elmira ; the Hon. John 
Magee, of Bath ; the Hon. Charles Cook, of Havana ; Constance 
Cook and I. S. Stranahan,of New York city, took hold of the enter- 
prise and constructed the road from Binghamton to HorneUsville. 
The road was finally constructed and reached Lake Erie May 14, 
1851. To recapitulate, the road was constructed from Piermont to 
Goshen in September 1841, to Middletown in June 1843, to Port 
Jervis January 1848, to Binghamton December 1848, to Elmira Octo- 
ber 1849, to Corning January 1850, and to Dunkirk, on Lake Erie, 
in May 1851, the event being celebrated all along the line and by 
an excursion over the road, accompanied by the president, Millard 



12 

Fillmore, the secretary of state, Daniel Webster, and other dis- 
tinguished men of this state and nation. It was indeed a proud 
and grand day for EJmira. The president and secretary of state 
remained in Elmira over night, Daniel Webster making a speech 
from the balcony of the Brainard or Eathbun house. 

The completion of the road and the consequent and attendent 
expenses connected with its building attracted a large number of 
persons to Elmira to engage in business and become permanent 
residents. In anticipation of the completion of the Erie, a railroad 
company was formed early in the year 1849 known as the '"Che- 
mung raih'oad company," composed chiefly of enterprising citizens 
of Elmira, Horseheads, Veteran, Havana and Watkins, who con- 
strucded during that year (1849) a railroad from Elmira to Watkins, 
at the head of Seneca lake, and a company soon after formed, con- 
tinued the road on north to Canandaigua and Niagara Falls. In 
the year 1853, the Elmira & Williamsport railroad company con- 
structed a railroad from Elmira to Williamsport, seventy-eight 
miles in length, and had it in operation in 1854. 

Thus Elmira had an eastern outlet two ways, one by the Che- 
mung canal to Albany and the Hudson river, and by the Erie 
railroad to Piermont on the Hudson, and also through New Jersey 
to New York. She also had two southern outlets, one by the 
Chemung river and the other by the Elmira & Williamsport rail- 
road, which at the latter place made connections as far south as 
Baltimore. Elmira while she gained much in poi^ulation lost some 
of her best citizens by the construction of the Elmira & WiUiams- 
port railroad, who went to WiUiamsport and engaged extensively 
in the manufacture of lumber. It was, however, only an exchange 
of citizenship, for Elmira gained a number of enterprising Penn- 
sylvanians. The western outlet from Elmira was to Corning and 
thence to Kochester, (for the Cohocton Valley railroad was 
completed in the year 1855) and on west from Corning to 
Lake Erie. At Corning a railroad ran south up into the Tioga val- 
ley to Blossburg, the center of the semi-bsrtuminous coal regions of 
Northern Pennsylvania, which was quite an advantage to the citi- 
zens of Elmira. The northward outlet reaches up to the shores of 
lake Ontario — intersecting the Central railroad at Canandaigua. 

Thus matters stood for two or three years, Elmira increasing in 
wealth and population and spreading out wider and wider, laying 
the foundation on a permanent basis for her present position- 
There was a little enterprise which contributed largely to the busi- 
ness of Elmira which I have omitted to name. It was the building 
of a plank road from Elmira south west to the Pennsylvania State 
hne upon Seeley creek, which enabled the lumbermen of that sec- 
tion as well as the farmers to get their products to an Elmira mar- 
ket. It was a good investment in every respect. The farmers 
and lumbermen could weU afford to pay toll over the road and haul 
two or three thousand feet of lumber at a load instead of worrying 
through the mud axle deep with eight hundred or a thousand feet. 
I have not the figures just handy here. Uncle Jonas, but I believe 
the plank road was built about the year 1848 or 1849. I remember 
I assisted in its construction, but my books are up stairs in the 
garret, and we will let this pass. 



In 
O 

The people in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, were anxious to 
extend their canal system from Towanda to Athens on the New 
York state line, and there connect \^ath a canal, which should be 
constructed either by the state of New York or by private enter- 
prise or by a company. The Pennsylvania had opened up valuable 
coal mines at Barclay, southwest from Towanda, and they wanted 
to get an outlet for it northward. The matter was tallied over in 
Elmira, and the result was the construction of the Junction canal, 
the capital furnished chiefly by the late John Arnot. In fact it 
was called John Arnot's canal. This canal gave the Pennsylvan- 
ians an opportunity of shipping northward their semi -bituminous 
coal of Bradford county and the anthracite coal of Luzerne, and 
the citizens of Elmira to ship their lumber, grain and other pro- 
ducts southward to Philadelphia if necessary. 

Public impiovements remained for a time, as your old legal 
friend, James Robinson, would express it, "in statu quo," giving 
the people time to erect suitable dwellings, pubhc buildings, 
churches, schools and colleges, commensurate with the dignity and 
importance of the place, and to establish increased facilities for the 
dissemination of news, and herald to the world the central position 
of Elmira and its extraordinary location for the transaction of 
business. Right nobly did the Elmira Daily and Weekly Adver- 
tiser and the Elmira Daily and Weekly Gazette respond to the 
wants of the prospective city. The war came on. Elmira was 
made a military rendezvous and also a mihtary prison for the safe 
keeping of rebel prisoners. For four years did she enjoy the dis- 
tinction, in the meantime increasing her wealth and population 
and improving her streets and extending the boundaries of her cor- 
porate linits. Her sons had distinguished themselves in battle, in 
the halls of legislation, upon the floors of congress and the councils 
of the nation. Her Divens, Hathaways, Hoffmans, Beechers, 
Robinsons and a host of others had made a splendid record. Elmira 
was divesting herself of her quiet village manners and assuming 
city airs. Before the war was closed she was incorporated as a 
city and the Hon. John Arnot, jr., elected the first mayor in April, 
1804. 

In 1866 the Elmira and Williamsport railroad and the Chemung 
railroad and the Canandaigua and Watkins branch were leased by 
a Pennsylvania company and has since been know under the gen- 
eral head as the Northern Central. The citizens of Elmira desired 
railroad connections with Ithaca, Cortland, DeRuyter, Cazenovia 
and Utica. They wanted a road that would connect Elmira by 
rail with these points more directly instead of taking the round- 
about way to Canandaigua, thence east via Geneva, Auburn Syra- 
cuse and Rome to Utica. The late Dr. Eldridge and other citizens £^, a im 
of Elmira, seconded by that persevering and indefatigable worker, 
Joseph Rodburn, of Breesport, succeeded in constructing a railroad 
under the title of Utica, Ithaca & Elmira railroad, which reached 
Elmira in the year 1875, thus adding one more outlet from Elmira 
and increasing its central position for shipments. In the meantime 
the Lehigh Valley railroad, under the direction of that master 
mind, the Hon. Asa Packer, deceased, had extended the line of 
that road from Easton on the Delaware river, up the Lehigli via 



14 

Bethlehem, Allentown, Mauch Chunk and White Haven, crossed 
over the mountain between the Lehigh and the north branch of 
the Susquehanna, penetrated the beautiful valley of the Wyoming 
and continued and connected his hue via Wilkesbarre, Pittston, 
Tunkhannock, Wyalusing, Wysox, Towanda to Waverly, where 
he had made the connection with the Erie and thus reached Elmira, 
using the Erie depot for his passenger traffic, but erecting a com- 
modious freight depot for the discharge and reception of freight. 
This added materially to the shipping f acihties and business interests 
of Elmira. 

The citizens of Elmira were not contented with their almost un- 
limited facilities for shipping north and south, east and west ; but 
conceived the idea of constructing a railroad from Elmira southwest 
through the town of Southport up Seeley Creek, thence westward, 
scaling the mountains intervening between the Chemung valley in 
New York and the Tioga valley in Pennsylvania, making connec- 
tions with the Tioga railroad and the semi-bituminous coal mine at 
Arnot, in the Blossburg region. The citizens of Elmira subscribed 
liberally towards this enterprise and in the year 1876 the road was 
constructed and its completion celebrated in fine style. This has 
proved to be one of the best investments of the kind for the city of 
Elmira, according to the capital employed, that she has engaged in 
for years. It puts the business men of Elmira in close contact with 
the farmers of Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and business men gen- 
erally of that county, while it literally places a coal mine at the 
very gates of the city, as well as a great lumber yard ; Tioga 
county being distinguished for her forests of valuable timber, as 
well as for her coal, likewise for her agricultural products, her but- 
ter and cheese, her wheat, corn, oats, buckwheat and tobacco. As 
you will perceive. Uncle Jonas, this centennial road as it is termed 
by some, because it was built in that year, added another spoke in 
the wheel of Elmira's prosperity and added more to her fame as a 
central point and increased her facihties for manufacturing. 

Three years ago another railroad reached our city from Pennsyl- 
vania. This one, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, came 
here from New York, by the way of the anthracite coal regions of 
Pennsylvania and entering the eastern portion of the city and 
thence westward by way of Corning and Bath to Buffalo. It is a 
strong company with elegant roUing stock, and a faultless road- 
bed. 

Elmira, you perceive, has been continually increasing in wealth 
and population attracting to it railroads from all points of the com- 
pass. While it cannot boast of as rapid and phenomenal a growth 
as some of your western cities, Uncle Jonas, she has steadily 
reached out right and left and annually increased in strength. But 
Uncle Jonas, the things have not come to her vdthout an effort. 
She has not sat down and folded her hands and quietly waited for 
these events to take place. Oh, no ! It has taken brains, money, 
energy, skill, patience and enterprise. I don't want to say too 
much, Uncle Jonas, to one who thinks there is no place so progres- 
sive as the great west, but I do believe that there is not an inland 
city in the east, (out of comphment to you I won't say the west,) 
that can compare with Elmira to-day in facilities for manufactur- 



15 

ing and shipping, either for glass, iron, boots and shoes, clothing, 
tobacco, cigars, the malting and brewing business, the miUing of 
flour and feed, the manufacture of cloth, the manufacture of stoves 
and foundry and machine work generally, including that of en- 
gines and locomotives, the construction of freight and passenger 
cars, the manufacture of saws and edge tools, the wholesaling of 
goods of every description, for the reason railroad freights are 
cheap in all directions, and competition between rival lines brisk. 
We are substantially at the outlet of mines of bituminous and an- 
thracite coal, near the great iron deposits, near the glass-sand rock, 
the forests of timber, the center of a great wool and tobacco trade, 
the center of railroads, requiring cars of all descriptions. We are 
near the great cokeries of Tioga county, Pa. , where the best coke 
is made in America for the manufacture of iron and steel and the 
tempering of edged tools, and with plenty of elbow room to spread 
out up to North Elmira, or down to Wellsburg, or up the river to 
Dan Fitch's old place. We have schools and colleges, churches 
and printing presses ; we have street railways, water and gas 
V7orks, and a fair system of sewerage : we have broad streets well 
protected by shade trees ; we have professional men eminent in 
their work, and, taken altogether, one of the most desirable places 
for a residence in the country. " 



PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. 



RECOLLECTIONS OP INCIDENTS IN THE LIVES OF THP EARLY RESIDENTS. 

"Did you say Harry, that the house was situated on the "Billy 
Hoffman" farm ?" "Yes, Uncle Jonas." "I can remember Mr. Hoff- 
man as far back as sixty years ago. He was a hatter and furrier 
by trade, and was considered one of the best in the country. He 
was a Pennsylvanian by birth, born I think in the county of Nor- 
thumberland. He was one of nature's noblemen, honest and 
square in his dealings, kind and hospitable. He carried on bus- 
iness on Water street, and was finally succeeded by the late Nelson 
W. Gardner, and then devoted his entire time and attention to 
farming. As he was distinguished as a hatter, he also became dis- 
tinguished as a farmer, producing the finest wheat, corn and oats in 
the country, as well as raising the finest steers and young cattle 
for the market. Soon after you left Elmira he erected one of the 
finest barns in the Chemung valley and painted it yellow. His place 
was known far and wide. The plain, brick house, and the 
mammoth yellow barn, were landmarks by which his farm was 
described. 

The completion of the Erie railroad to Elmira, in 1849, stimu- 
lated the sale of village lots. Mr. Hoffman about that time com- 
menced laying out lots and selhng them, until his fine farm of 
about 200 acres was covered over, not with waving fields of 
grain nor herds of neat cattle, but cottages and costly dwellings. 
The yellow barn was torn down to make room for the habitations 
of men, women and children, instead of being the site where the 



16 

fruits of the field were garnered or the herds of the farn sheltered. 
He died July 4, 1867, aged ninety years, as sincerely mourned as 
any man who had ever resided in the Chemung valley. 

His son, Colonel Henry C. Hoffman, distinguished himself in the 
war for the preservation of the union, commanding the gallant 
Twenty-third regiment of New York state volunteers, and died 
quite suddenly at Horseheads about two years ago. He resided on 
and owned the farm where the old pioneer, John Breese first set- 
tled, in the year 1788. The colonel had erected upon it a fine man- 
sion, a creamery and was a stock breeder of fine cattle. He had 
twice represented the county of Chemung in the popular branch of 
the legislature and was a gentleman highly esteemed. His age 
was about fifty-four, and physically he was one of the finest pro- 
portioned men in the southern tier." 

"Harry, let us walk down street this morning. Now you must 
put on your 'thinking cap,' for I shall, no doubt, ask you a great 
many questions. Since I have got Uncle Billy Hoffman's place 
located, I think I can locate the rest along the road. Yes, over 
there is where Billy WiUiams had his tannery. This is where the 
Goulds built their grist miU, and on this side is where Silas Billings 
lived, and here is the Judge North corner. Down below this Main 
street bridge, of which, Harry, you promised to give me a history, 
is the old ark yard, and a little lower down is where Ben Vail had 
a cabinet shop." 

"How can you locate these places so well, Uncle Jonas ?" 

"Because, Harry, I have traveled this road or street more than a 
thousand times when there were not more than a dozen buildings 
between the Whittington Sayre place or tavern upon the corner of 
what you now call State street up to Billy Hoffman's. I can rec- 
coUect, Harry, when there were fields of grain growing where these 
piles of brick are now laid up. Let us move along, Harry, down to 
the Eagle." 

"Who is that old gentleman in the carriage, lookidg this way ?'^ 
"That, Uncle Jonas, is Judge Gray." "What, Hiram Gray f "Yes, 
Uncle Jonas." "Well, I declare, he is well preserved. He is about 
ten years older than I am* He must therefore be in his eighty- 
fifth year. Why do you call him judge, Harry ? He was practic- 
ing law when I left with such men as Andrew K. Gregg, John W. 
Wisner, Samuel G. Hathaway, jr., James Dunn, Thomas Maxwell, 
Aaron Konkle, Ariel S. Thurston, William Maxwell, Ehjah P. 
Brooks, as members of the bar from Elmira." "Let us rest a mo- 
ment here in this easy seat in the reception room of the Rathbun 
house, and I will tell you. You recollect, Uncle Jonas, that two 
years before you left Elmira Mr Gray had been elected to congress, 
and had associated with him the young and rising lawyer Samuel 
G, Hathaway, jr. The partnersip was a very fortunate combina- 
tion. Hiram Gray was a cool, logical lawyer, while Hathaway was 
a smooth, p )lished and accomplished gentleman, not then so deeply 
versed in law, but a fine scholar, excellent manners, fluent in speech 
and almost irresistable before a jury. Gray and Hathaway were 
both graduates of Union college, Schenectady, presided over by the 
famous Dr. Nott, so distiuguislied for his scholarly attainments, 
and particularly for his faculty of imparting to his students the 



17 

acience of elscution and rhetoric. When a chent apphed to the 
firm, Hiram Gray looked up the law and the decisions in the case, 
and Colonel Hathaway selected in addition to the law which Gray 
referred to him, the points upon which he might enlist the sym- 
pathy of the judge or jury, and if necessary in trying the case, 
made his plea, conform to the equity instead of the law in the prem- 
ises. No man excelled Colonel Hathaway in trying a case in the 
court of common pleas, where the case should have been decided 
according to law, and before the judge or jury were aware of it, 
deciding it a case of equity. I say Uncle Jonas it was a fortunate 
combination, Hiram Gray having a clear judicial mind, which was 
capaMe of grasping and presenting all the points at issue, calculated 
to cad forth the better feehngs of the judge and the jury. In 1845, 
or about that time, Alexander S. Diven, now known as General 
Diven, who had been a student with Hiram Gray, became a mem- 
ber of the firm. In 18-16 Mr. Gray was appointed by govenor Silas 
Wright one of the judges of the supreme court, and in the year 
1847, the office being abolished by the new contitution, Judge 
Gray was elected one of the justices of the supreme court in June 
of that year, and served eight years in that capacity. In the yer.r 
1867 Union college conferred upon him the degree of doctor of laws, 
and in 1870 he was appointed as one of the commissioners of ap- 
peals, and, old as as he is now, many cases of graat importance are 
yet submitted to him." "Well, Harry, we will call on him and re- 
new our acquaintance. But what of Hathaway and Diven f ' 

"After Judge Gray went upon the bench the law firm was 'Div- 
en & Hathaway,' and was additionally strengthened by the ac- 
cession of James L. Woods, a great student and a careful counselor, 
when the firm became 'Diven, Hathaway & Woods,' and was one 
of the most trusted firms in Southern New York. Colonel Hath- 
away was elected a member of the legislature and was several 
times a candidate for congress, but was not elected. He was one 
of the most polished democratic campaign speaker in the state. 

During the rebelhon he raised a regiment and went gallantly to 
the front. The climate of the south vv^as fatal to him. He con- 
tracted a disease, resigned his conmiission and returned to his old 
home at Solon, Cortland county, N. Y., where he died April IGth, 
1864, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, one year before the close of 
the war. He was a gentleman greatly beloved and respected. 
Alexander S. Diven continued as a member of the firm above re- 
ferred to until the year 1861 — in the meantime having acted as a 
director in the Erie railroad and been instrumental in its construc- 
tion, had also been conspicuously connected with the building of 
the Elmira & Williamsport railroad, had served a term in the state 
senate and was elected to congress in the year 1860 as a republican. 
In 1862 he assisted in raiding the 107th regiment of New York state 
volunteers and went into service as its lieutenant-colonel, where he 
discharged his duty with courage and fidelity. He was subse- 
quently appointed provost marshal, with headquarters at Elmira, 
which duties he discharged with eminent ability and satisfaction. 
He is stiU living and is about one year your senior, Uncle Jonas, 
being seventy-six years old. He resides in a beautiful home on the 
southern portion of the old Carpenter farm, on the road to Horse- 



18 

heads, and has a winter residence in Florida. His son, George M. 
Diven, is a prominent attorney of this city now. James L. Woods, 
the junior member of the firm of Diven Hathaway & Woods, still 
resides in the city. As a counsellor he stands pre-eminent in his 
profession. I recollect him well when he was a student in the 
office of Gray & Hathaway, Jimmy Woods, as he was then called 
boarded with Judge Gray, who about the year 1843, purchased a 
stony farm on the ridge back from the river road, near the Colonel 
John Hendy farm, and built himself a large stone residence made 
of round cobble stones which were found on his farm. The man- 
sion stood back from the road in the fields and scrub oak and yel- 
low pine brush. Judge Gray caused the course of the old highway 
leading from Elmira to Big JFlats, which, at this point, ran along 
near the river bank, to be changed and straightened, so that it 
would run within a few rods of the mansion. It was situated 
about two miles from the office. Eegular as the sun, Jimmy 
Woods, then a pale slender youth, could be seen walking from the 
office to Judge Gray's for his meals and returning to the office 
again. In this manner he obtained exercise, gave himself time for 
reflection and thought, and developed into a strong man physically 
and mentally and became a perfect dictionary or cyclopfedia of law 
and court decisions. He resides near us, Uncle Jonas, and some 
time when it is convenient we may call on him. "Harry, I want 
to go down again to the Lake street bridge and take a look at 
Clinton island. I have spent many a happy hour upon it." 
"Uncle Jonas, there is no Clinton island now." "What, no Clin- 
ton island ; what has become of it?" "Oh, it has been entirely 
obliterated, not by floods, but by the hand of man. The ownership 
of it finally was vested in a gentleman, who cut down the trees, 
dug out the stumps and hauled away the gravel and earth of which 
it was composed, to p-ade our streets." "What desecration, 
Harry. I have often thought in my western home, as I would 
occasionally hear from Elmira, that she was making splendid pro- 
gress ; that the corporation would purchase Clinton island, protect 
its banks from washing away by the construction of suitable docks 
and piers, and make a public park of it. Nature had done her pait 
in planting those magnificent button ball, butternut, maple and 
other forest trees. The grass was as soft as velvet and the shade 
in summer time cool, the air refreshing, while the rippling of the 
waters furnished music that quieted the nerves and made it a re- 
sort to which the weary might take refuge, when overburdened 
with the cares, the noise and the tumult of the busy street. Yes, 
Harry, I have often thought of Clinton island, the picnics, the 
parties, the celebrations and the quiet walks I had enjoyed upon 
that beautiful island. But if it is now in the condition you describe 
I do not wish to look at it, I do not wish to mar the remembrance 
of its former beauty and loveliness by gazing now upon its deform- 
ity. I want to cherish its memory. 

" There is one thing, Harry, that I have remarked in my travels 
over this city, and particularly along Water street and Lake street, 
that there is only one business sign hanging out here to-day, and 
but few names in the business directory, that were to be seen or 
read when I left Elmira. The sign on the Chemung Canal bank 



19 

is the same, and the business is being carried on by the same parties 
or their descendants now that were then. In the directory I find 
the names of Partridge, Colhngwood, Arnot, Baldwin, Post, Gil- 
lett, Dunn, Hart, Goldsmith, Ayers, Haight,Cooley, Gray, Thurston, 
Purdy, Perry, Satterlee, Hall, Preswick, and a few others, but the 
old names are substantially gone and others taken their places. 

' ' Harry, I am getting into a melancholy and reflective mood, 
and let us go down Water street to Newtown creek. It is quite a 
distance, yet I am strong and feel well and we will take our time." 
They pass down Water sti^eet. Uncle Jonas pointing out the old 
business places between Baldwin and Lake streets and making 
comments. They go on down by the Chemung Canal bank, the 
residence of Lyman Covell, chatting about old times until they 
reached Madison avenue. Uncle Jonas thought of his old friends, 
the Greggs, turned up the avenue admiring the beautiful residence 
of Dr. Flood, and made their way to the Gregg homestead. How 
small the mansion appeared in comparison with some of the present 
residences in Elmira. In its day it was a residence of no mean 
proportions. ''Here, Harry, resided a family who were great 
friends of mine, and with whom I exchanged many courtesies in a 
business and social way. They were of Irish descent and connected 
with some of the best families in central Pennsylvania and south- 
ern New York. Ex-Governor Curtin, the great war governor of 
Pennsylvania, was a relative of them. The head of the family 
settled in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, during or soon 
after the revolutionary war. His name was Andrew Gregg, and 
his son, Andrew K. Gregg, was born in Elmka and was about ten 
years my senior. I think he was born in 1799 and I in 1810. He 
studied law and was admitted to practice, and in 1835 was chosen 
district attorney for the county of Tioga, before the county of Che- 
mung was formed, and also after it was formed, acting in that 
capacity as late as 1841. His house was the center of a i-etined and 
cultivated circle. Two of his children I recollect well, Isaac B. 
and Mary. Isaac studied law with his father and was admitted to 
practice, but soon thereafter, I learn, obtained a position in the 
custom-house in New York city and remained there for many 
years. In 1857 Andrew K. Gregg severed his business relations 
with the people of Chemung county and went west, locating at 
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where he died about ten years later, 
April 5, 1868, aged sixty-nine years. He was distinguished for his 
honesty, his legal acquirements and his social qualities. 

"Harry, what are those buildings ui)on the side hill beyond 
Newtown creek?" "Those, L^ncle Jonas, ai"e the Elmira water 
cure. This cure has been established for twenty-five years or 
more." "And what are those yonder?" "The Elmira woolen 
mills. Uncle Jonas." "Yes, I see. I must acknowledge, Harry, 
that Elmira has spread out over a wider territory than I expected." 
"But, Uncle Jonas you have not seen yet how the Southport side 
of the city is settled. We will look that over at some future time." 
"Harry, I want to return home by "Pigeon Point," or " 81ab- 
town " as we called it years ago. I can recollect wlien the ground 
where we are now was covered with black aVlers, and watei- with 
thousands of frogs in the summer time making the night hideous 



20 

with their croakings. What a change, what a change. Come on 
Harry, I know the "lay of the land" here even if it is built up 
with fine residences, schools, churches and manufacturing estab- 
hshments." "This, Uncle Jonas, is the Delaware & Lackawanna 
railroad which I told you about yesterday. See, what a perfect 
road-bed." "Harry, we can build in the west railroads very much 
cheaper than you can here in the east." " Yes, I admit it, Uncle 
Jonas." " I see. Harry, that there are still a great many colored 
people here at the 'Point'." "Yes, but Uncle Jonas, they have 
improved very much in their habits and character since you left. 
They were then a lazy, thieving, plundering set, as a class. Of 
course there were exceptions to this rule. Now these colored 
people have erected churches and chapels, have regular ministers 
of their own color, support and maintain Sunday-schools and have 
taken commendable steps to advance in morals and education." 
" I am glad of it Harry. I see that your city has erected elegant 
and substantial school buildings, yet no section of the United States 
excels our western and northwestern cities in their school buildings 
and the apparatus and appliances necessary for imparting informa- 
tion. Yonder, Harry, is one of the old landmarks of Elmira, the 
late residence of the Hon. WiUiam Maxwell. How small it looks 
comparatively. When I lived here I thought it was large enough 
for the president of the United States. It was erected a few years 
before I went west and considered the finest residence in Chemung 
county. 

"You must have been acquainted with 'Billy' Maxwell, Uncle 
Jonas ?" "Very well, Harry. He was a son of one of the pioneers 
of Chemung county at Elmira, was a lawyer and one of the first 
officers of the Chemung Canal Bank, was prominently connected 
with the early trials and struggles of the New York & Erie raihoad. 
Oh, yes, Harry, I knew him well." 

' 'There is an incident connected with his history. Uncle Jonas, 
after you left Elmira which I wish to relate : You must recollect 
Uncle Jonas, the great struggle of the citizens of Southern New 
York to prevail upon the legislature of the state of New York to 
pass the bill for the construction of the Chemung canal, and the 
sympathy and assistance that Tioga and Bradford counties in Penn- 
sylvania rendered in that event. You must recollect that Chemung 
county sent a committee of its citizens, one of whom I believe was 
Judge Gray, as early as 1825 to go to Blossburg, in Tioga county, 
Pa. , and examine the coal and iron beds, and how one of the enter- 
prising citizens of Horseheads, then the town of Elmira, Vincent 
Conklin, went to Blossburg with his team, and drew a load of the 
coal in a wagon to Albany to show the members of the legislature 
what mineral existed in the mountains just over the state line in 
Pennsylvania, besides showing the immense growth of valuable 
pine timber there was in Chemung and Steuben counties which 
would be manufactured and taken eastward if the proposed canal 
was constructed. You must also recollect that prominent among 
those who op]:»osed the consti'uction of the canal was Colonel Sam- 
uel Young, of Saratoga county, who was a member of the legisla- 
ture of Now York, made an adverse report, using the term 'sturdy 
beggars' to those who petitioned and advocated the construction of 



21 

the canal. Well, in 1846, five years after you left Elmira, a con- 
stitutional convention was called to revise the constitution of the 
state, and delegates from each assembly district were selected to 
sit in the convention. The democratic party of the state was then 
divided into two factions, one was styled the Hunkers and the 
other the Barn-burners, two not very euphonious names. Colonel 
Young wished to be a member of that convention, or at least his 
friends did. Colonel Young, it was determined, after a careful can- 
vass of Saratoga county, could not be elected from that county. 
He was a barn- burner, and the hunker or conservative wing of the 
democratic party were too strong for him there. A county con- 
vention of democrats was held in Horseheads in February of that 
year (IS-IO) to recommend to the canal board suitable persons to be 
appointed as superintendent and collector of the canal, in Chemung 
county, and in the caU for the convention, there was no mention 
made or authority given to the convention to nominate a person to 
represent Chemung county in the constitutional convention which 
would convene in Albany, June 1st, 1816. Tlie county convention 
was convened at Horseheads. The Superintendent and collector 
were recommended, and the convention adjourned, and a large 
portion of the delegates left the haU. The convention was compos- 
ed of both factions but they had agreed to 'pool their issues" and 
recommend the othcers above referred to. The barnburner portion of 
the convention remained in the hall by a secret understanding, and 
as soon as their friends the hunkers had substantially vacated, a 
motion was made that the resolution to adjourn be reconsidered, 
which was carried, of course — a few of the hunkers rusliing back 
into the haU and protesting vehemently, but of no avail. The con- 
vention was restored to life, and Colonel Young, of Saratoga, was 
put in nomination as a suitable person to represent Chemug county 
in the constitutional convention. To say that the hunker portion 
of the democratic party were indignant, is too mUd a term. The 
old version of the scriptures was then orthodox, and the hunker 
portion used the King James English in a vociferous manner. The 
barnburners were evidently in the majority in the county, that is, 
they outnumbered the hunkers, but they did not outnumber the 
whigs and hunkers combined. It was claimed that there had 
never been such an insult offered to the intelligence and dignity of 
the county as the nomination of such a person as Colonel "Sam" 
Young to represent a section of the state to whom he had apphed 
the opprobrious epithet of "sturdy beggars" ; that it was a virtual 
acknowledgement that the county had no one capable of represen- 
ting her in the convention which would meet to revise her organic 
law. A paper was drawn up whose reputed author was General 
Alexander S. Diven, setting forth the facts and circumstances under 
which Colonel Young received the nomination, to be signed by the 
voters of the county requesting the Hon. William MaxrvveU to ac- 
cept the nomination for delegate to the convention. This paper 
received the names of such men as Lyman Covell, Colonel Samuel 
G. Hathaway, Jr., Alexander S. Diven, Levi J. Cooley, Thomas 
MaxweU, Hiram Gray, of Elnira ; Moderica Eickey, Legrand Bar- 
low, of Horseheads ; Elijah Sexton, Chauncey Taylor, Daniel Par- 
sons, of Veteran, the Hon. George B. Guinnip, Simeon L. Eood 



22 

and others in the northern portion of the county, and by Judge 
James Hughson, Judge John L. Sexton, U. Hampton Davy, John 
W. Hughson, Lorenzo D. Hughson, George A. Gardiner of Big Flats; 
the Hon. John G. McDowell, of Chemung, and hundreds of others 
throughout the county. The hunkers had no newspaper in the 
county to advocate then cause, but were supported by the Albany 
Argus at the capital. The Elmira Gazette was then owned by 
George W. Mason and WiUiam C. Rhodes, and it supported Colonel 
Young. I tell you. Uncle Jonas, I have been familiar with the 
political contests in Chemung county since its organization, and I 
have never witnessed a more bitter and stubborn contest than 
that. Mr. Maxwell accepted the nomination ; the whigs made no 
nomination, but as a general thing sympathised with the hunkers 
and desired to rebuke the insult and voted for Mr. Maxwell thus 
securing his election by about 800 majority. He ably represented 
the county in the convention, was a gentleman of pleasing address, 
well versed in the fundamental principles of organic law, and knew 
the necessity of the revision of the constitution of the state, and the 
necessity of reorganizing the judiciary and eliminating many of 
the old and crude forms of procedure which had been handed down 
and continued from colonial times. Mr. Maxwell was elected the 
next year member of assembly and served with distinction. He 
died in the year 1858 of paralysis, aged about fifty-six years. He 
left no children." 

"What large buildings are those, Harry, away across yonder on 
the back road f "That, Uncle Jonas, is the Elmira state reform- 
atory prison. We will call there some day in the near future and go 
through the institution.". "Very well. Is that a rolling mill over 
there by the canal ?" "Yes, that is what is known as 'The Elmira 
Iron and Steel Rolling Mill. ' It was originally chartered August 7, 
1860, as 'The Elmira Rolling Mill Company,' but has since changed 
its title. The officers were : Asher Tyler, president ; Edwin El- 
dridge, vice-president ; H. W. Rathbone, secretary and treasurer. 
It is now one of the strongest manufacturing companies in southern 
New York. It has from time to time added to its original plant, 
erecting furnaces and plate mills. Did you know General Ransom 
Rathbone, of RathboneviUe, Steuben county. Uncle Jonas ?" "Oh, 
yes." "WeU, his son, Henry W. Rathbone, is now chiel stock- 
holder and manager of this concern. Then there is Jesse L. Cooley, 
son of your old friend, Levi J. Cooley, and John D. Williams, son 
of your old friend, William Williams, hold responsible positions 
there. They have been with the company since it first organized. 
''Is that so Harry ! I should be pleased to make their acquain- 
tance." "Yonder, Uncle Jonas, is the depot of the Delaware Lack- 
awanna and Western railway, and that long building down there is 
the freight depot of the Lehigh Valley railroad, and that new buil- 
ding you see down this track is the depot of the Elmira, Cortland 
and Northern railway, formerly the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira. 
That building up this track is a tobacco warehouse under the 
charge of Reuben Lovell & Son. Reuben Lovell is a son of your 
old friend Levi Lovell, of Big Flats." "I declare, Harry, this is 
like Chicago in some respects. When I left here this was swamj^y 
land, and in the spring of the year there were a million of black- 



23 

birds (is that blackbirds enough Harry), singing in the alders and 
willows along the canal here. Why it reminds me of Chicago is 
that a large portion of it when I first went there was swampy and 
wet. But now it is one of the finest portions of the city." "This, 
Uncle Jonas, is the business office of the Northern Central railroad! 
Although the structure is an unpretending one, there is still a great 
amount of business done there. As you will recollect, this road ex- 
tends from Niagara Falls via. Canandaigua, Elmira, Troy, Wil- 
Hamsport, Northumberland, Sunbury, Harrisburg to Baltimore. It 
is a very important hne. Now look out. Uncle Jonas, when cross- 
ing here. There are so many cars arriving and departing here that 
one has to keep a sharp lookout or he will be run over. We are 
safely over, and suppose we take a walk down the avenue to the 
Union depot. Of course we can't stop to talk over every place we 
pass, we must reserve that business for days when the weather is 
bad and we can't go out. This building belongs to Andrew Hath- 
orn, son of your old friend, John Hathorn, who Uved on the back 
road from Richardson's mill to Big Flats, just beyond McConnell's. 
"Oh, yes, I remember John Hathorn. He was a prominent farmer. 
Near his house there was an oak grove, where camp meetings were 
held by the Methodists, That is now called ys, est J unction, or N orth 
Elmira. The grove has been cut down since 1850, soon after the 
Erie railroad passed through it. Here, Uncle Jonas, was the to- 
bacco warehouse of the John Brand estate, and this is a grist mill, 
and that is the warehouse of the Hon. John I. Nicks, a prominent 
tobacconist who came to Elmira about forty years ago, and open- 
ed a httle shop on Water street near the bridge. I recollect well Uncle 
Jonas, when he first came to Elmira. He was a rosy-cheeked, 
well-informed young man of about twenty-two years of age. He 
commenced business with a small capital, was industrious, fru- 
gal, saving, sober and punctual in his dealings, and soon 
grew into prominence in a financial and political way. He was 
elected as a republican, the second mayor of the city of Elmira in 
the year 1865, to the senate the same year, taking his seat in that 
body January 2, 1866. He was also for a long term of years Uni- 
ted States revenue collector for the district, and receiving other 
confidences of the people and the government. He is truly a self- 
made man, energetic, thorough and practical in all his undertakings. 
"This, Uncle Jonas, is the Union passenger depot, which is used 
by the old line, the New York, Lake Erie & Western, as it is now 
called, the Lehigh Valley, the Northern Central and the Tioga 
Elmira and State line railroads. Robert B. Cable is superintend- 
ent of the Susquehanna division of the New York, Lake Erie and 
Western, together with the Tioga, Elmira and State Line raikoad, 
which is now a branch of the Erie. He is a gentleman well calcula- 
ted to discharge the responsible duties devolved upon him. William 
C. Buck, son of your old friend, the Hon. George W. Buck, or more 
familiarly known as "Wash" Buck, of Chemung, is general freight 
agent for the Susquehanna division, the Tioga branch, and another 
branch leading into the hard coal regions. His father, the Hon. 
George W. Buck was prominently connected with the old Erie, 
when it was completed in 1849, as an appraiser of damages in the 
"right of way." His son WiUiam C. possesses in an eminent 



24 

degree the characteristics of his father, in transacting a great amount 
of business with accuracy and discretion, and evidently has a bright 
future before him. Over that net work of iron rails is the Erie 
car shops which was established by the Erie company soon after the 
road was completed to Elmira, about the year 1851, with William 
E, Rutter as manager and superintendent. It has been destroyed 
by fire several times. Mr. Rutter, Uncle Jonas, was an accom- 
pHshed gentleman and a kind hearted man. He was the father of 
the late James H. Ruttor, president of the New York Central and 
Hudson River railroad. He had another brigh t son, WiUiam, who was 
injured fatally about the year 1854 while running to a fire He oc- 
cupied the position of secretary of the ''Young America fire com- 
any," which was organized Sept, 25, 1854. His funeral was largely 
attended and greatly mourned by the citizens of Elmii-a, who 
sympathised deeply with the affliction of Mr. and Mrs. Rutter. 
I attended his funeral. Uncle Jonas. The fke department turned 
out in a body, led by the celebrated Wilham Wisner brass band, 
who vliscoursed a most solem dirge on the occasion. 

"We had better take a street car. Uncle Jonas." "Just as you 
say, Harry." "It is one of of your old friend, Timothy Satterlee's, 
sons who occupies the store on the corner. That is the residence 
of the Hon. Ariel S. Thurston. His sisters you recollect conducted 
a seminary for young ladies there for years. This is Dr. Wilham 
C. Wey's residence on the west side of the street, and that over 
yonder is Henry W. Rathbone's, of whom we talked in connection 
with the Elmira roUing miU, and that is Charles J. Langdon's, son 
of your old friend, Jarvis Langdon v/hom you recollect lived in 
Millport, but subsequently moved to Elmira and engaged exten- 
sively in the lumber trade and finally in the coal trade. "Charley, 'j 
as he is familiarly called, has large investments in coal property in 
Pennsylvania and is increasing the patrimony left him. This is 
Park Church. It is the outgi'owth of an independent Congre- 
gational church, established in 1845, Thomas B. Covell and Stephen 
H. Henford deacons, and with about forty members, principally 
from the first Presbyterian church. The Rev. T. W. Graves was 
estabUshed minister in charge in the year 1846 in the month of 
February, and continued until November of that year, was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. Messrs. A. M. Ball, E. H. Fairchild, WiUiam 
Bement, and Thomas K. Beecher, the latter commencing his pas- 
torate in June, 1854, thirty-one years ago. The church edifice was 
taken down in 1872 to make room for the elegant and durable 
structure. It is a church home, containing an auditorium, session 
room, parlor, dining room, kitchen and other rooms for the con- 
venience of the pastor and his people. It was chiefly designed by 
Mr. Beecher. 

Under his ministration the church has annually increased in 
strength and usefulness. There has never been any serious dis- 
agreements between pastor and flock, and for the past thirty- one 
years a harmony and unity of purpose have been the characteris- 
tics of the church. Mr. Beecher numbers among his flock some of 
the most, wealthy and influential citizens of Elmira. By some he is 
called eccentric, but there is one thing certain Uncle Jonas, his 
eccentricity has carried joy, peace and happiness into many a family. 



25 

the high, the low, the rich and the poor, and scattered broad- 
cast the doctrine of peace on earth and good will to men." His 
hand has always been open to the poor, and his voice always heard 
pleading for the oppressed." 

" This, Uncle Jonas, is the residence of the late Hon. Asher Ty- 
ler, who came to Elmira in the year 1848, during the construction 
of the New York & Erie railroad. He was their general land 
agent. He was a native of the county of Oneida, in this state, 
and was born in the year 1Y98, receiving a coUegiate education, 
studied law and was admitted to the bar. He formerly resided in 
Cattaraugus county, New York, and had been largely interested in 
real estate in that county and had represented his district in con- 
gress. He was the very personification of a gentleman of the old 
school, — kind, courteous and obhging. During his early life in 
Oneida county and his later life in western New York, he had 
come in contact with the red man, and had studied their traits of 
character, their history and traditions. After the raikoad was 
completed to Dunkirk and the titles for the right of way and other 
real estate were completed, he identified himself with several of 
the then young industries of Elmira. He was one of the origin- 
ators of the company formed under the title of the Elmira Rolling 
Mill company, and for a period was the president of the company. 
Physically, he was a man about six feet in height and weU pro- 
portioned, walking erect and dressed with care. As a conversa- 
tionalist he excelled in attracting his hearers by his fine diction 
and descriptive powers. In a company of friends, they seemed to 
have no desire to speak, content to listen to his pleasing and enter- 
taining conversation. I have often thought, Uncle Jonas, that the 
Hon. Asher Tyler and the Hon. Horatio Seymour must have been 
instructed by the same model teacher, the two resembling each 
other so much in their excellent manners and gifted conversational 
powers. Mr. Tyler died ten years ago the first of tliis month 
(August) leaving this beautiful residence to his wife and daughters. 
We are most down to Water street, Uncle Jonas, and I wHl puU 
the beU rope." 

VISIT TO SOUTHPORT. 

" Harry, after I have looked over the newspapers a few minutes 
suppose we drive over to Southport Corners — I mean over to the 
place where so many of the Jones family and Charley Evans for- 
merly resided. I want to see what improvements have been made 
on the south side of the river. You say that Elmira has absorbed 
quite a portion of Southport and the probabilities are that she will 
in time absorb more territory." 

"All right, Uncle Jonas, I will be around with the carriage in a 
few minutes. This, Uncle Jonas, is the Main street bridge. A 
company was organized in the year 1853 and constructed a bridge 
here, and in 1862 the company becoming involved the bridge was 
sold at sheriff's sale. Moses Cole, of IMiUport, was the builder. In 
the gi'eat freshet of March 17, 1865, the trestling over Chnton island 
was carried away. The damage was repaired. In 1866 the first 
span was burned. In 1865 the Lake street, or old bridge company 
and the Main street company consolidated, both companies charging 



26 

tolls. This toll business was a tax upon every farmer wno 
came to Elmira from Southport to sell the products of his farm or 
make purchases of dry goods and groceries and a general inter- 
change of commodities, the burden of which fell upon the house- 
holder who purchased of the farmer, for the toll was added to every 
farm product that was purchased by the grocer and retailed to the 
consumer. The consequence was that the subject of free bridges 
was agitated for several years and resulted in the abandonment of 
the toll system, and an act of the legislature authorizing the city 
of Elmira to expend one hundred and twenty thousand dollars in 
the construction of two iron bridges in lieu of the old wooden struc- 
tm-es, which should be free. After the work had progressed for a 
season it was ascertained that the sum of one hundred and twenty 
thousand doUars was inadequate to complete them, and the sum of 
thirty thousand dollars was authorized by an act of the legislature 
of 1874 to finish the work, the actual cost being $149,321:. Thus 
was Elmira ten years ago released from the restriction of trade and 
commerce by means of the abandonment of the toU system. The 
tax to pay for the construction of the bridges was more equally 
levied, and the result has been highly beneficial to all parties con- 
cerned. The Eev. Thomas K. Beecher took an active part in 
bringing about this most desirable object. I tell you, Uncle Jonas, 
it was quite an effort to get the people awakened fully to the neces- 
sity of the outlay of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but 
even those who opposed it are now proud of them and point with 
pride to these splendid pieces of mechanism. Their construction 
increased the wealth and population of both sides of the river. 
This, Uncle Jonas, is the residence of the late Dr. Edwin Eldridge, 
of whom I will tell you more hereafter. " 

' ' Keep quiet for a moment, Harry. I want to see if I can dis- 
cover any old land marks. Since that beautiful island is destroyed 
I have quite lost my reckoning. Oh ! I see, yonder is Mount Zoar. 
It is all right now. As we drive along I will tell you Harry about 
the times we used to have chasing deer with hounds from Mount 
Zoar into Seeley creek, or into the river just above the point of 
Clinton island, opposite the late residence of Uncle BiUy Hoffman. 
All along where we are driving now were woods then growing 
down to the river bank. Along the Lake street or Southport road 
to Wellsburg it was cleared, of course, but this land along here 
was the rear end of the farms, covered with a thick growth of 
timber. The Gulp and Loop boys, Dr. Jotham Purdy, E. Jones, 
myseff and a few others, would take our dogs in the fall of the 
year, say in September or October, and send a trusty man with them 
up to Mount Zoar or Spanish Hill and distribute ourselves along 
the river and in the road between here and Simeon R. Jones's or 
SoUy Smith's and then wait for the coming game. By and by we 
would hear, as Dr. Purdy used to express it, the heavenly music, 
the barking of the hounds in pursuit of the deer. Some would 
lead off to the south and west, while others would come straight 
for the point of the island, and if the hunter failed to kill his buck, 
which was frequently the case, the deer would swim across the 
river, crossing West Water street, going between Billy Hoffman's 
and Dr. Thesus Brook's place and along across the fields a little 



27 

west of Park church, dash across to where the union depot now is 
and off into the alders and willows by the Chemung canal described 
this morning with its million blackbirds, and if not captured would 
bound away across Newtown creek on to east hill, passing between 
the late residence of the Hon. William Maxwell and the present 
residence of General A. S. Diven. Sometimes our party would 
capture three or four fine deer, and then again we would steal 
away home one by one, without a single trophy. This hurrying 
throng of people along on these walks would scarcely believe that 
the man now lives, who has seen this section covered with forest 
trees and thickly populated with wild animals. Harry, did you 
ever hunt raccoons i Well, this flat here and away down the river 
bank on the Sly flats these mischievous animals were plenty. I 
think, Harry, I have had really more fun to the square inch hunt- 
ing those thieves, than in any other sport I ever engaged in. Per- 
haps it was not the capturing and killing of those animals that 
constituted the fun, but the associates and the necessary concom- 
itants of the chase — the midnight supper, with green corn, harvest 
apples and sining chickens in the buttonwoods, the songs sang and 
the stories told around the big camp fire, may have added some to 
the sport. Really, Harry, you have quite a city on this side of the 
river. What is that large building that we see down yonder across 
the railroad track ? " 

''It is the La France steam fire engine manufactory, Uncle 
Jonas. That is one of the manufacturing industries of which 
Elmira is proud. The sons of General Alexander S. Diven are 
largely interested in the work. That cluster of brick buildings you 
see farther to the south and west are the shops of the Northern 
Central railioad company. A large number of men are given 
steady employment and quite a number of them are owners of 
houses and lots in this vicinity. The establishment is nominaUy in 
the town of Southport, but perhaps it will be but a few years be- 
fore they will be embraced in the city of Elmira." 

" What are those farther to the east ? " 

"They are the shops of B. W. Payne & Sons. They have re- 
cently been removed from Corning, N. Y. The firm are large 
founders and manufacturers of steam engines, and desirous of ob- 
taining more room and more advantageous shipping facilities, they 
were induced to locate there. They also give employment to quite 
a large number of men. " 

" I suppose, Harry, that most all, if not quite all, of the persons 
with whom I was acquainted with in this town are dead, I recol- 
lect Solomon L. Smith, Philo B. Jones, the Rev. Simeon R. Jones, 
Richmond Jones, William Jenkins, Jacob Miller, George W. Miller, 
James Griswold, Wilham Wells, T. O. Scudder, Richard Baker, 
Charles Evans, Seth Marvin, John Marvin, Miller McHenry, Abram 
Stryker, William Lowe, William T. Knapp, Ezra Canfield, William 

Brown, John L. Smith, William Webb, Archibald Jenkins, ■ 

Dalrymple, Hiram Middaugh, Hiram Roushey, John W. Knapp, 
Samuel Middaugh, John Fitzsimmons, Almon Kenyou, Nathaniel 
Knapp, Thomas Maxwell, James B. Goff, Samuef Strong, Piatt 
Bennitt, John Bovier, Isaac L. Wells, Thomas Comfort, Jeremiah 
Coleman, Judge Baker, Abram MiUer and no doubt there were 



28 

many others whose names have escaped my memory at the present 
whom I would recall were they mentioned. There is nothing here 
that I recall at the corner, so drive on. Along this road, Harry, 
when I left Elmira, was a great forest of white pine timber. I see 
that it has all been cut down and even the stumps pulled up and 
burned or made into a fence. What little hamlet is this that we 
are approaching, Harry ? " 

"That, Uncle Jonas, is Pine City." 

"About forty years ago an attack was made on the white pine 
timber that stood in this vicinity. Allen, Lyman, Samuel and W. 
L. Gibson, then of Elmira, Seth Marvin and the Webbs commenced 
the attack. Allen S. Gibson removed here with his family from 
Elmira and erected a large lumber shanty and remained for several 
years and then removed back to Elmira, purchasing the lot upon 
which the female college is new located, and afterwards purchasing 
lots on the corner of Main and Church streets, where the parsonage, 
memorial chapel and Episcopal parsonage are now located. Samuel 
C. Gibson opened a store above this place and subsequently removed 
to Big Flats and engaged in the sale of merchandise there. Lyman 
and William L. Gibson, soon after established themselves up on 
Baldwin street, above the First Presbyterian church, in the lumber 
and mercantile business, purchasing and shipping lumber to Al- 
bany, Troy and New York city. Their store was called " The 
Lumbermen's Store." Of the four brothers only one is now ahve, 
W. L. Gibson, who still resides on Baldwin street, near where the 
Lumbermen's Store was located. His wife was Betsy Jones, 
daughter of Elijah Jones, who formerly owned the hotel where the 
building of the Elmira Advertiser association is now located. The 
Gibsons were good hunters and fond of spending now and then a 
day in hunting and fishing. If I were addicted to telling fishing 
and hunting stories, Harry, I could relate some that were true and 
yet in this day would seem improbable and entirely overwrought. 
It was no extraordinary event fifty or sixty years ago, when I was 
a boy, to see half a dozen fishermen take a seine and go to the 
river and catch a wagon box full of pickerel, shad, bass, perch and 
other fish in less than half a day. After they had got their wagon 
load, they would drive to some central point, select a grassy plat 
where there was plenty of shade, unload the fish and divide them. 

Uncle Johnny owned the land near the best fishing point, had 

no share in the seine, but would always, in consideration of his 
locality, claim a share in the fish. Uncle Johnny could be easily 
excited, and hated suckers, mullets and chubs as most people do 
rattlesnakes. The fishing party understood the animosity of Uncle 
Johnny and would proceed to lay in one pile the pickerel, in an- 
other the bass and perch, and thus distribute all the most desirable 
fish by themselves, while the inferior class, such as chubs, suckers 
and mullets, would be placed in a pile for the benefit of Uncle 
Johmiy, and in order to excite his ire. While this assorting pro- 
cess was going on, Uncle Johnny would be kept busy samphng the 
wet groceries extracted from a gallon jug. When everything was 
in readiness one of the party would turn his back to the piles of fish 
lying on the grass and another would call out to him, ' Who shall 
have that pile of fish ? ' The answer would be, ' Philo Jones.' That 



29 

pile would be a splendid lot of pickerel and perch, or bass and 
perch, the man would then turn his back and the query would then 
be repeated with slight variations, 'who shall have this pile of fish V 
The answer would oe, 'Uncle Johnny.' The calhng of his name 
would attract his attention and Uncle Johnny who had hitherto 
been kept busy sampling the contents of the jug, would make a rush 
to examine his pile or fish. Then was when the ball would open, 
and the grand march take place. Johnny always carried a strong 
heavy cane and was usually accompanied by a large and ferocious 
brindle dog, who would take delight in masticating any offender 
whom Johnny would poini out. Johnny would walk around, take 
an extra chew of pig tailed or lady twist cavendish tobacco, and 
commence breathing like a bellows, for the moment too full for 
utterance. At last he would break out in a volley of oaths that 
would hterally shake the thorn apples from the trees, or the rocks 
from then' beds, ending in a peremptory order for every one to leave 
that place immediately and calling on brindle Bose to enforce the 
order. Bose would make a dash, some would take to the wagon 
and others to the trees, leaving Uncle Johnny and his brindle com- 
panion in posession of the field with all the fish, good, bad and in- 
different. Someone would attempt to negotiate with Uncle Johnny 
on a peace basis. The one most skilled in diplomacy would be selected. 
A flag of truce accompanied by the jug would then be sent into the 
camp of the victor. By and by Johnny would order Bose to He 
down, the parties would descend from the trees and wagon and a 
new distribution agreed to. The second distribution, perhaps would 
meet with no better success than the first. Instead of Johnny get- 
ting all chub and suckers as he did on the first distribution, by this 
and that process he would get all perch, excellent fish but hard to 
prepare for the pan. A second opening of hostilities would com- 
mence, and the same means of attack and escape resorted to. 
What Johnny wanted was pickerel, or at least his share of them. 
By the same course of diplomacy, peace would once again prevail. 
A new umpire would be chosen, a fairer distribution would be 
made, and a final and satisfactory division of the fish take place. 
Uncle Johnny loaded d* wn with pickeral and bass, and filled to the 
brim with wet groceries, accompanied with his faithful Bose, would 
take their departure — while the jolly fishermen would laugh with 
great glee at the farce of dividing the fish. I declare Harry, we 
are almost back to Elmira again !" 



OLD FRIENDS AND FAMILIES. 



UNCLE JONAS BRINGS FORWARD SOME INTERESTING FACTS. 

"Good morning, Uncle Jonas. We are storm-stayed, no riding or 
walking out to-day. But we can enjoy ourselves at home, and I 
will tell you about your old friends in Elmira." 

"That will please me, Harry. Go on." 

"To commence with your old friend, Aaron Konkle, you of course 
knew that he studied law in the office of Mathews & Edwards, and 
in the year 1826 was appomted byJGovernor Dewitt Chuton district 



30 

attorney for Tioga county, then embracing the territory composed 
now of the counties of Tioga, a portion of Broome, a portion of 
Tompkins, a portion of Schuyler and the entire portion of Chemung 
county, holding the office for three successive terms. He was also 
appointed supreme court commissioner, and uj)on the resignation 
of the Hon. John W. Wisner was appointed in the year 1850 judge 
of Chemung county, Ariel S. Thurston succeded him in that 
position. Judge Konkle died October 13, 1861, aged seventy-five 
years. As you recollect, he was a very modest and unassuming 
man, always dressed neatly, very dignified in manner, a ripe scholar 
and a safe counselor. Were you acquainted, Uncle Jonas, with 
Judge Thurston ?" 

"Do you mean Ariel S. Thurston ?" 

"Yes." 

"Oh, I recollect him well. He was a young attorney then, just 
coming into prominence, and a law partner of John W. Wisner." 
"Since you went away. Uncle Jonas, he was, in 1851, elected coun- 
ty judge, serving four years in that capacity. In 1859 he was ap- 
pointed state assesor, serving three years in that office, and in 1876 
he was appointed one of the managers of the state reformatory 
prison at Elmira. The judge has been quite successful financially, 
securing a competency for his old age. He and Judge Gray are 
the only members of the Chemung county bar who were admitted 
to practice at the Tioga county bar before the county of Chemung 
was formed, in 1836. Their certificate of admission to the bar ante- 
date the organization of the county and are the connecting links, 
yet unbroken, m the chain binding the old with the new, reflecting 
honor upon their profession and the bar of Chemung county. 
You of course recollect, Uncle Jonas, Judge James Dunn ?" 

"Oh, yes, Harry." 

"WeU, in 184:4 he became county judge, serving two years in that 
capacity, with great satisfaction. He, however, preferred active 
practice to the dull routine of the bench, and became one of the 
leading advocates and attorneys in the county. He was a genial and 
social companion, hospitable and charitable in its broadest sense. 
He had the faculty of making friends and retaining them. He died 
May 1, 1877, in the seventy-third year of his age. Of course. Uncle 
Jonas, you were acquainted with Major Levi J. Cooley." 

"Yes ; he was one of my very warmest friends." 

"Well the major, when you left Elmira, was engaged extensive- 
ly in the various stage lines leading into Elmira, with Mr Maxwell, 
his brother-in-law, under the firm name of Cooley & Maxwell. 
He continued in that business until stage coaching was superseded 
by the locomotive. He was a polished gentleman and warm 
friend. He died June 4, 1874, in the seventy-third year of his age. 
Benjamin Vail was one of your old friends. Uncle Jonas. WeU, 
he came to Elmira in the early days and engaged in the manufac- 
ture of cabinet ware upon a small scale, also the manufacture of 
coffins. He resided in Elmira and its immediate vicinity fifty-eight 
years, occupying the same dwelling for forty-four years located in 
Elmira. He was ever the same honest, companionable, upright 
mechanic, citizen and neighbor. He was married to Miss Eliza Smith 
February 27, 1823, and celebrated his golden wedding February 27, 



31 

1873. The marriage ceremony was performed in 1823 by the Eev. 
Simeon R. Jones, the pioneer minister. Uncle Benjamin Vail died 
July 12, 1873, in tlie seventy-fifth year of his age. 

"Riggs Watrous, another of your old friends, son of Isaac Wat- 
rous, of Big Flats, came to Elmira in the year 184U and engaged in 
the manufacture of tin ware, nearly opposite the present site of 
the Elmira Advertiser association building, and gradually increased 
his business so that in 1842 he removed to Water street and added 
the hardware line to his former pursuits. In these branches he 
prospered, until he became the foremost hardware dealer and tin- 
ner, in southern New York. During his thirty-five years of active 
business life he met with several severe reverses, but always came 
out of them with honor and credit. He was prominently connect- 
ed in the establishment and maintainance of the Baptist church. 
He several times held offices of trust and responsibihty, which he 
discharged with fidelity, but he preferred to bend his energies upon 
his chosen pursuit rather than accept pohtical or official distinction. 
He died Sep. 11, 1883, aged sixty-three years, two months and 
twenty-five days. 

"I have incidentally mentioned. Uncle Jonas, the name of John 
Arnot, with whom you were acquainted, and I will now give you 
a brief history of Elmira's foremost man, after you left here. Mr. 
Arnot, as you recoUect, came to Elmira in the year 1819, and en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits and was very successful. At one 
time he had a branch store at Painted Post in Steuben county .In 
the year 1824 he was married to Miss Harriet Tuttle, daughter of 
Stephen Tuttle. In the year 1830 he erected the first brick store 
in Elmira, which stood on the northwest corner of Lake and 
Water streets, where the present elegant block is now situated. 
The year previous in 1829, he erected a foundry upon the site of the 
present opera house and set up the first steam engine in southern 
New York. In 1836 he became a stockholder in the Chemung Canal 
bank. In 1812 he sold out his stock of goods, becoming cashier of 
the Chemung Canal bank, with the late Hon. Charles Cook, of 
Havana, president. In 1848, 1849, 1850, he and the late Hon. John 
Magee, Charles Cook, Constance Cook and I. S. Stranahan con- 
structed the New York & Erie raih-oad from Binghamton to Hor- 
nellsviUe.. In 1854 he was largely interested in the construction 
of what was known as the Junction canal. In 1858 he was pre- 
vailed upon to accept the nomination for congress in a district that 
held 3,000 majority against him. So popular was he and such 
confidence had the people in his integrity that he was only defeated 
by about 300 votes. Had he made a personal canvass there is no 
doubt that he would have been elected. At this time he was pres- 
ident of the Chemung Canal bank, having been chosen in the year 
1852. He had previously been interested in the construction of 
the railroad from Elmira to Watkins and from Elmira to Wilhams- 
port, in fact in every enterprise calculated to benefit the people at 
large or the village of Elmira. He was also interested in the con- 
struction of gas works for the proper illumination of the village. 
In the year 1866 he became largely interested in the coal lands and 
railroads in Tioga county. Pa. , and the founding of a prosperous 
mining town, which was named Arnot, in his honor, and which 



32 

to-day is the most populous village in that county. His death oc- 
cured November IT, IS 73, aged eighty years, regretted and mourned 
by people in all sections of the country. 

''I declare, Uncle Jonas, the storm has abated, and I think the 
weather will be fine this afternoon. Suppose we take a drive up to 
Hjrseheads, or North Elmira, as it is now called." 

"Well, Harry, that will suit me." 

"Which road shall we take." 

"Take the old lake road, Harry ; I want to see how it looks and 
we will return by the back way, perhaps, or down the avenue, you 
told me about." 

In a short time Uncle Jonas and Harry are seated in the carriage 
on their way to North Elmira. 

"What is this, Harry ?" 

"A street railway running from here to North Elmira. It is a 
worthy enterprise. This, Uncle Jonas, is the residence of General 
A. S. Diven. See how nicely he has fitted up the| old place. He 
has resided there about thirty years, or it is about that time since he 
purchased it, and perhaps more than thirty. Time slips away so 
fast one really can't tell without referring to dates how rapidly it 
has passed." 

"These lands along here, Harry, when I was a boy, were covered 
with sciTib oak and dwarf pitch pines, and so stony that many farm- 
ers said they would not take the land as a gift. But they made a 
great mistake. They are warm and quick. See how well that corn 
looks." 

"This is the Carpenter estate. John Carpenter, who recently 
died, hved here for many years and kept a hotel. This place here 
on the right is what is known as the Hugh O'Hanlon farm, and 
here is the old Richardson property. Over yonder is the late resi- 
dence of Richard Hetfleld." "Oh, yes; I recollect Richard Het- 
field weU. He was a natural landlord. Could make his guests 
feel at home. Mrs.Hetfield was weU calculated for a landlady and 
acted well her part." 

"Charley Khne hved in that house for many years. You must 
recollect him, Uncle Jonas ?" 

"Very well indeed." 

"This is the David McConneU farm. He has been dead some 
years. This is the Increase Mather farm." 

"He must have come here after I left." 

"This is the Sayre property." 

"Why, what has become of the canal ? Oh, I forgot, Harry, that 
it was abandoned," 

"That dwelling out there on the left is the late residence of the 
Hon. Charles Hulelt." 

"Oh, I lemember him. He formerly lived in Veteran. Yonder 
is where Vincent Conklin's distillery stood when I left. Horse- 
heads has brightened up very much since I last saw it. There are 
no old landmarks that I recognize." 

"Well, Uncle Jonas, when we get home to-night I will teU you 
all about it." 

' 'Harry, let us drive about the town and take a view of it and re- 
turn by the avenue, and when we get home we will talk the matter 



33 

over. I can make inquries of you and I rather like the way you 
converse upon these old people, and those tliat have taken their 
places." 

Harry drives north as far as the late residence of John Westlake, 
then returns and goes west as far as the late residence of Joseph Live- 
say, noting the churches, the schools, the depots, manufacturing 
establishments, banking institutions, hotels, private dwellings and 
returns by the way of the avenue, down by the state fair grounds, 
Eldridge Park, to Elmira and home to dinner. 

* * * ->:- * * * * 

^'You may think your oM uncle a little lazy Harry, but these 
afternoon dinner naps are very refreshing. We have taken a 
splendid trip to-day, and I could not, as we passed along, refrain 
from silently contrasting the appearance of the country now, and 
when I first went over tlie road more than sixty-five years ago. I 
was a lad then of ten years. My father sent me on horseback up 
to Judge Darius Bentley's, who lived a few miles north of Horse- 
heads, and who was a surveyor. It was in the month of August, 
about the tenth I should judge. The valley between Newtown (we 
called it Newtown then) and Horseheads was completely enshroud- 
ed in smoke, arising from the burning at fallows. The fallows 
were burning here on the Hoffman farm, on the Robert Covell 
farm, on the Wisner and McCann farms on the back road, and on 
the lake road a fallow was being burnt where, a few days ago, you 
pointed out to me the residence of Stephen T. Reynolds. The 
lands at the head of Baldwin street and Pigeon point were being 
cleared off and great brush and log heaps were on fire. The alders 
had been cut down by the roadside between where the late Hon. 
William Maxwell erected his fine residence fifteen years later, and 
where General A. S. Diven now resides, and the heaps set on fire. 
They were so close to the road and made such a hot fire that it was 
almost impossible to pass, even on horseback at a smart gallop. 
When I got to the stony ridge on the Carpenter estate, long wind- 
rows of brush were piled up and ran Avest to where the Chemung 
canal was afterwards constructed. Just before I arrived there, 
the torch was applied to them and great waves of fire twenty or 
thirty feet high were rolling down toward the highway, driving 
me out into the timber on the east side of the road. I took a cow 
path that led around to a little flat on the banks of the 2\eA^i:own 
creek, and by a circuitous route reached the highway again half a 
mile further northward. The wind hfted the smoke for a short 
time and I could look away to the westward and see fallows burning 
on the John Suffren, William Rockwell, John McConnell, and 
John Hathorn farms, the great volumes of black smoke rising up 
reminding me of the pictures I had seen of the eruptions of Mount 
Vesuvius. Fallows were on fire along my path on the Hetfield 
and Sayre farms, the Guildersleeve and Breese farms, the Le Homi- 
den reserves, and on small lots in Horseheads. East of Horseheads 
I could see the smoke arising from the fallows on fire up Newton 
creek, but to the northward, there was only one small clearing on 
lands subsequently owned by John E. Westlake, until you reached 
Judge Bentley's on the marsh. Judge Bentley subsequently erect- 
ed a very fine residence on higher ground, in which he resided 



34: 

when I left the country. At length I reached Judge Bentley's, 
my eyes swimming with water, from the heat and smoke which I 
had passed through. The Judge was away from home and did 
not return until it was nearly dark. I transacted my business with 
him and after partaking of a hearty supper I started for home. 
The air was full of smoke and falling cinders. When I arrived at 
Conkling's tavern at Horseheads and looked down the valleys tow- 
ard Newtown, the sky was illuminated by a hundred fires, yet 
ablaze. Vincent Conkhng then was the landlord and knew my 
father, and tried to persuade me to remain over night, as it was 
dangerous for me to undertake to ride through these columns of 
fire. But I knew that my father and mother would not rest until 
I came. I determined to go on. I stated this fact to Mr. Conkhng 
and he said to me : ' Jonas, if that is the case, you must have an 
escort.' I thanked him, told him that I did not need any, as I had 
taken supper at Judge Bentley's. I shall never forget the look 
that Mr. Conkling gave me when I told him that. After a mo- 
ment he said : " Jonas, an escort is not anything to eat, it means 
a guard, a companion. I mean to send my man Hawkins with 
you down as far as Carpenter's, and from there you can get along 
safely enough. And he did. Hawkins was a man of all work 
-about the hotel, a person given to large and miraculous stories. 
While he assisted me in avoiding dangerous fires, he tuned up my 
nerves to the highest pitch, by relating hair-breadth escapes from 
panthers, wolves, catamounts and bears. Some of the stories 
made every hair on my head as large as a rope, and fairly hfted 
my cap from its place. We parted company at Carpenter's, near 
the present Diven mansion, and I arrived home safely. But Haw- 
kins had so filled me with terror in the recital of his extravagant 
and fictitious stories that I expected every moment a huge wolf or 
panther would sally out from the woods and make a meal of me, 
and I did not breathe freely until I got down to Captain Grant 
Baldwin's. After I reached home and went to bed, I could see 
those long lines of fire, like so many columns of soldiers, advanc- 
ing with an irresistible fury. Now and then there would appear a 
smgle iDlaze in the top of some large tree flashing out in the dark- 
ness like a signal; then would appear a sohd column advancing 
from the west, while in the east broken columns in platoons and 
divisions were making great exertions to escape. Here and there 
in the darkness would appear a faint and flickering light, where at 
one time the battle had waged in its fiercest fury, then again the 
columns would mass their strength, sending up high in air huge 
pillars of fire and smoke reflecting their hght upon a broad field of 
blackened and charred fragments of the contest. I have seen, 
Harry, great lakes of fire in mountain waves, sweep over the 
prairies of the west, which were a grand spectacle to behold! but 
their march was onward and steady and lacked that variety of 
scenery of an hundred faUow fires skirted by forest, and encircled 
by hills and mountains as seen sixty-five years ago along the valley 
of Newtown creek." 



35 
HISTORIC HORSEHEADS. 



THE EARLY SETTLERS— MEN OF STRONG CHARACTER — THE RESULTS 

OP THEIR WORK. 

" The pioneer settlers of Horseheads were nearly all living, 
Harry, when I was a boy, and I am thus enabled to give you an 
outline history of that village from it hrst settlement in 1789. I 
was also acquainted with a revolutionary soldier who lived at Big 
Flats by the name of WiUiam Mapes, who accompanied General 
SuUivan on his expedition against the Indians in the year 1779, and 
was present when the cavalry and artillery horses were kiUed by 
SuUivan's order in October of that year. Some of the horses' 
heads and bones were to be seen lying around on the surface of 
the ground as late as 1830. John Breese and his brother-in-law, 
Asa Gruildersleeve, were the first settlers, Breese locating in 1779, 
and Guildersleeve a few months later. They were succeeded by 
John Winkler, David Powers, Christopher Vandeventei', Jonathan 
S. Conkling, James Sayre, Ebenezer Sayre, John Parkhurst, Israel 
Catlin, Seneca Roland, Nathan Teal, Caleb Bentley, Brittou Payne, 
Solomon Moore, Jacob Powell, John Jackson, who settled in 
Horseheads and its immediate vicinity. Morderica Rickey, John 
Tenbrook and Gershom Livesay settled some two or three miles to 
the westward, but in the town of Horseheads. Darius Bentley, 
afterwards known as Judge Bentley, settled to the northward 
about three miles, and John Jackson to the eastward, and on the 
"back road" were the McConnells and William Rockwell. The 
Westlakes were early settlers. John E. Westlake, Samuel West- 
lake and Jacob Westlake, the latter known as Colonel Jacob West- 
lake, represented Chemung county in the assembly of the State the 
first year after the county was formed, with much honor to him- 
self and satisfaction of his constituents. He was a man of more 
than ordinary ability, and one of the most pleasing and effective 
public speakers in the southern tier. 

' ' As soon as the early pioneers had secured a shelter over their 
heads, they employed a teacher to instruct their children. As 
•early as 1793 Miss Ameha Parkhurst, daughter of John Parkhurst, 
was thus engaged. The Rev. Daniel Thatcher, a Presbyterian 
clergyman of Newtown, held services in the new settlement (which 
it was voted to christen Horseheads) as early as the year 1798. 
The Rev. Roswell Goff, a Baptist minister, also held services as 
■early as 1807. The Methodists held services as early as 1815, the 
Rev. Benjamin Westlake officiating. So you will perceive, Harry, 
that Horseheads was not wanting in schools or church instruction. 
The quakers, or society of friends, led by such reliable citizens as 
J. Marshall, and assisted by David Coddington, Francis Bowman, 
Benjamin Palmer, Richardson Cornell, Amos Crandall, Josiah Cor- 
nell, Stephen Estes, Abel Shute and Richard Wild, gave additional 
facilities to worship God according to the dictates of conscience. 
As soon as the bill was passed for the construction of the Chemung 
■canal in April, 1829, large accessions were made to the population 
of Horseheads. It was certain that the canal would pass through 
Horseheads, for there was no other route by which it could go 
from its initial to its terminal points, that is, from the head of 



36 

Seneca Lake at Watldns, to Elmira on the Chemung river, nor no 
other feasible way in which it could be fed by water from the 
Chemung river, only by constructing a feeder from Horseheads, 
the summit level between the lake and the river, than by starting 
from Horseheads and running westward through the town of Big 
Flats and eastern Painted Post, tapping the Chemung river at or 
near the Chimney Narrows, two miles below Painted Post. Thus 
was the citizens of Horseheads positively assured that the canal 
would be constructed through their town and be made the center 
of commerce. At that time a great discussion was going on in the 
county of Tioga in relation to the division of the county or the 
establishment of half-shire towns. The rivalry in the half-shire 
business was carried on very enthusiastically between Spencer, 
Owego and Elmira, which finally culminated in a division of Tioga 
county six years later, and the formation of Chemung county. In 
the meantime the canal had been constructed passing through 
Horseheads as its citizens had foretold it would, the feeder leading 
from Painted Post down into the very center of the village, from 
whence it was distributed north to the lake and south to Elmira. 
Then came the struggle, Harry, referred to some days ago about 
the location of the county seat, which I need not again speak of, 
the result being that Elmira secured the prize and has ever since 
remained as the county seat of Chemung county for the past forty- 
nine years. From 1830 to 1840, Horseheads increased rapidly in 
population and wealth. Hotels, stores, warehouses, schools and 
churches, grist mills, tanneries, foundries, distilleries were erected 
and the village assuming the name of Fairport in 1837, and at the 
same time a newspaper was established by J. T. Bradt named the 
Chemung Patroit, which was intended to diseminate far and wide 
the admirable location of Fairport and the flattering prospects of 
that energetic little village. It was called Fairport when I left this 
section in 1841. 

"It was changed back. Uncle Jonas, to Horseheads, I think, 
about the year 1845." 

" Well, Harry, I have given you the outline of its history up to 
1841, and I want you to continue it up to the present." 

"Very well. Uncle Jonas. You state. Uncle Jonas, that Elmira 
became the country seat, wresting it from Horseheads. That is 
true, but she has ever since remained the central point for holding 
county conventions of all the various pohtical parties. She has 
also enjoyed the honor of being the point for great social gather- 
ings. It is, therefore, not only the political center, but it has had 
a fine reputation for its dances and social hops, where the elite of 
that place and the surrounding country have met to enjoy an even- 
ing in that innocent and healthful amusement. You neglected to 
state. Uncle Jonas, that under the old militia system of the state, 
that it was at Horseheads, that the regimental trainings, or " mus- 
ters " took place for the county County fairs were also held there, 
and at one time the sporting fraternity of Chemung, Steuben and 
Tompkins met there and had a trial of speed witli their fastest and 
most sx)irited horses. The ' ' Emancipation, " a f uU blooded Virginia 
bred race horse, about the year 1855 or 56, contested a nine mile 
race, with another blooded animal known as the "Virginia Mare.'' 



37 

But it is doubtful whether these trials of speed resulted in any per- 
manent benefit or added much to the reputation or character oi" 
the village. I merely state this, Uucle Jonas, to show it was a 
central point. During all these years, up to 1854, Horseheads had 
been in the town of Elmira. In that year she became an indepen- 
dent sovereignty, a town by herself. Charles Hulett, EUjah Car- 
penter, Hiram S. Bentley and George Bennitt were appointed as 
officers to hold the first election for town officers. The act went 
into effect February 14, 1S54. In April of the same year the 
Horseheads Building Association was formed with Comiort Ben- 
nitt President; Willis B. Sayre, vice-President; Hiram !S. Bentley, 
Secretary; Charles Hulett, Treasurer. Financially it was a very 
strong association. It erected a fine three-story brick block during 
the year 1854, containing a large haU of greater capacity than any 
in the county. In the year 1855, the boundaries of the corporation 
were enlarged, and on the 7th of April of the same year a news- 
paper was established by Samuel C. Taber, under the wise and 
euphonious name of The Philosopher. In November, 1855, the 
Chemung County Bank was organized by the Hon. WiUiam T. 
Hastings, with a^capitalof $50,000. In the year 1856 the Chemung 
County Republican was established, and Florus B. Phmpton in- 
stalled as editor. Thus was Horseheads provided with two news- 
papers, not to foster her business interests, but to engage in politi- 
cal quarrels. Horseheads was surely on the road to prosperity. A 
better class of buildings had been erected, capitalists from the sur- 
rounding country had sought and made investments, and no vil- 
lage in Chemung county was more prosperous. Boat building was 
carried on quite extensively, it had become a center for the purchase 
and shipment of grain, also for the manufacture of flour and feed, 
the manufacture of stoves, besides the trade from the surrounding 
country done by its merchants with the farmers and others. The 
Chemung canal was at the height of its usefulness. Millions of 
feet of sawed lumber and millions of feet of square timber, besides 
large quantities of coal and agricultural productions, were passing- 
through the village, every boat-load of which must stop, while the 
captain of the boat or fleet would have his shipping bill examined 
and the toU adjusted and paid. This enabled the grocery and pro- 
vision merchants, in fact, merchants of all kinds, to do a profita- 
ble trade with the boatmen and timberman. Comfort Bennitt and 
three of his sons, from Big Flats, representing hundreds of thous- 
ands of dollars; Charles Hulett, from Veteran; the Moshers, from 
MiUport; the Marshalls, from Newtown Creek; the Tabers, from 
Oortland, aU representing capital and energy, had located in 
Horseheads, when on the 12th day of August, 1862, a fire broke 
out, which destroyed the entire business portion of the village be- 
fore it could be checked or extinguished. And thus were the ac- 
cumulations of years swept away in a day. With commendable 
pluck and courage the sufferers went to work again to repair their 
loss by erecting stiU more expensive and durable structures. Al- 
though outwardly they acted brave and were inchned to make 
light of the calamity, still there were many who felt for a long 
series of years the results of that terrible fire. It had a tendency 
to check their progress. 



38 

"The Chemung railroad was constructed in 1849 (now the- 
Northern Central, ) having a station at Horseheads. In 1875 the 
Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad was constructed, passing through 
Horseheads and having a station at that place, and about five 
years ago a street railway was built connecting Horseheads and 
Elmira. A Masonic lodge was instituted in Horseheads in the 
year 1855. Dispensation granted to' James A, Christie, James 
Barlow, Darius Bentley, Waterman Davis, second, Eichard Het- 
field. Hiram S. Bentley, George O'Hanlon, John Bachman, O. D. 
Canfield, Rowland Parker, Vincent Conkling, Morderica Rickey, 
Adam L. Staring, John A. Beers, Charles M. Conkling. This has 
become a very prosperous lodge. In 1871 a Royal Arch chapter 
was instituted. Among the charter members were R. B. Bush, M. 
E. H. P.; Calvin Eddy, E. K.; S. A. Palmer, E. S. Evergreen 
Chapter, number eighteen, O. E. S., was estabhshed July 25, L870, 
with Calvin Eddy, Worthy Patron, Sophia V. Humphrey, Worthy 
Matron, Ruby A. Brown, Worthy Associate Matron, Lydia J. Car- 
penter, Secretary, Jennie S. Kies, Treasm^er. 

''A lodge of the Sons of Temperance was organized about the 
year 1848, and a lodge of Good Templars in January, 1869. A 
farmers' grange was instituted in February, 1873. 

"The Horseheads steamer and hose company was organized in 
August, 1873, which finally resulted in the incorporation of the 
Horseheads fire department, June 2, 1876. 

"The Horseheads Union School was organized October 11, 1865, 
and an academic department was added in 1877. 

" The Horseheads miUs were built in 1837 by Captain Vincent 
Conkling. 

"The Horseheads brick yard was founded in 1840, from which 
the outgrowth has been the present extensive yard of Benjamin 
Westlake." 

' ' Harry, I want to hear something about the old citizens of 
Horseheads." 

"WeU, Uncle Jonas, there are but very few of them living. 
George Bennitt, whom you knew as a farmer, has resided in the 
village for a number of years. He became interested in a business 
way with the Hon. William T. Hastings, who started a bank in 
1855. Mr. Hastings becoming involved, Mr. Bennitt, in order to 
secure himself against loss, was obhged to take possession of the 
bank and other property, and removed into the village. He is now 
engaged in banking. Vincent Conkhng, whom you knew, is liv- 
ing at an advanced age, still the very courteous and affable gentle- 
man as of yore. Colonel Jacob Westlake, Captain W^ood, Charles 
Hulett, Homer Ryant, Isaac Wintermute, Peter Wintermute, 
Ehjah Carpenter, Joseph McConnell, Morderica Rickey, Comfort 
Bennitt, Morris Bennitt, Richard Hetfield, John Jackson, Albert 
A. Beckwith, John E. Westlake, Samuel Westlake, Joseph Mar- 
shall, WiUiam Estes, WiUiam Hastings, senior, William Rockwell, 
David McConnell, Ebenezer Mather, Orrin Eddy, Hugh ColweU, 
Jacob G. Widrig, David Shappee, Abner Shappee, Joseph Livesay, 
Cornelius Tenbrook, Angevine Lockwood, John Hathorn, Judge 
Darius Bentley, Legrand Barlow, David A. Degraff, Wilham Rey- 
nolds, and John Breese are dead. John Bennitt, of Big Flats, has 



39 

two sons living in Horseheads, Josiah Bennitt and Miles C. Ben- 
nitt, and there are three sons of Comfort Bennitt living there 
also, George, Daniel and Andrew J. Bennitt. Cyrus Barlow lives 
there. Perhaps you are acquainted with him. Uncle Jonas. " 

"Yes, I had a speaking acquaintance with him." 

"Well, Cyrus Barlow lives there and is practicing law. I 
think you must have been acquainted with Jacob Weller, of 
Veteran." 

"Yes, Harry. He has a son Theodore V. Weller, who resides 
there. " 

" You must have known Walter Daily, of Millport." 

"Yes. Well, he has a son Walter who resides there and is one 
of the prominent lawyers of the county. Hugh Colwell has three 
sons living there, Robert, John and William." 

" I must say Harry, upon the whole, that Horseheads is a pleas- 
ant place. It seems to be well provided with schools, churches, 
lodges and railroad facihties, and surrounded by one of the best 
agricultural districts in the country that ought to thrive and 
prosper. 

"Within the township. Uncle Jonas, there is another very 
thriving and prosperous village. I refer to Breesport." "Where 
is Breesport, Harry ?" " It is situated near the eastern hne of the 
town of Horseheads on Newtown creek about six miles from 
Horseheads. The Elmira, Cortland & Northern Raih-oad runs 
through the village. When the railroad was first built you recol- 
lect I told you, that it was called the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira rail- 
road; but the new management have changed the name. Under 
the first management, the car and repair shops of the road were 
located at Breesport. But I understand that the new managers 
have removed them to Cortland. But, Uncle Jonas, I wiU not un- 
dertake to tell you more about the place until we can have an op- 
portunity of visiting it. 

"Harry, we must visit Tioga county, Pennsylvania, to-morrow. 
I want to go up there and visit the coal regions while the weather 
is pleasant and reserve these short trips for more boisterous weather. 
I want to take a ride over your Tioga, Elmira & State Line rail- 
road. I want to see Lawrenceville, Tioga, Mansfield, Cance Camp, 
Covington, Blossburg, Morris Run, FaU Brook, Arnot, Landrus and 
Hoytville, The train leaves to-morrow morning at 9 -AS, does it ? 
AU right ! I'U be on hand. " 



THE TIOGA VALLEY. 



A TRIP BY RAIL — PERSONAL MENTION — OLD AND MODERN TIMES. 

"We are in good time, Uncle Jonas — ten minutes to spare. I 
will buy the tickets, and the train will soon back up to the station. 
Here it comes. We will go into the cars and select a good seat, 
where we can take observations and in the meantime I will tell 
you about the men who run this train. The engineer is Sanford 
Gaylord, a veteran in his profession. He is a native of Mansfield, 



40 

Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and for the past twenty-seven years 
has been employed in the various capacities by the railroads of 
Tioga county, serving as brakeman, fireman and engineer. He 
has served in the capacity of engineer for the past twenty-three 
years, chiefly employed by the Tioga railroad company. He is 
called a safe and careful man, but fearless in the management of 
his engine, not hesitating to run his engine at the rate of sixty 
miles per hour, if necessary. He is annually given a vacation, 
which he spends in the mountains of Tioga and Potter counties, 
hunting and fishing, thus strengthening his nerves for the labor- 
ious duties of the engineer. He is a genial and companionable 
gentleman, and I will introduce you to him before we return. His 
fireman is Wilham Delancy, a trusty man, who has served several 
years in that capacity and is now really competent to take charge 
of an engine. The gentleman, Mr, Skidmore, who has charge of 
the express car, has been in the employment of the express com- 
pany for the past thirty-five years. He has grown gray in the ser- 
vice, and has ever discharged the trust reposed in him with fidelity. 
Millions of dollars during his term of service have been in his 
charge, and every dollar reached its destination. Judson Hadley, 
the baggage master is an old raikoad man. He has been in the 
employ of the company for the past fourteen years serving in 
various capacities. He sometimes relieves the conductor, Mr. 
Shattuck, when that gentleman by sickness or otherwise is com- 
pelled temporarily to vacate his position. Mr. Hadley is a trusted 
official. Isaac Bowen, chief brakeman, is a son of ex-Sheriff 
Stephen Bowen, of Tioga county, and has been in the employment 
of the company for quite a term of years. He is kind, obliging 
and gentlemanly. Wilham Grossbeck, an assistant brakeman, has 
been but a short time upon the road, but has the appearance of a 
worthy employe. Charles L. Shattuck, the conductor, is a rail- 
road man of long experience, having been connected with the 
Tioga railroad and Tioga & Elmira railroad for the past eighteen 
years. He is a gentleman with whom. Uncle Jonas, you would be 
ipleased to make an acquaintance. He is careful and obliging and 
conscientious in the performance of every duty assigned him. He 
resides in Elmira and is prominently connected with the Railway 
Young Men's Christian Association, and has done much to ad- 
vance order, sobriety and Christian principles among railroad men 
generally. The association to which he belongs you recollect. 
Uncle Jonas, owns that cosy brick chapel and reading room on 
Raikoad Avenue and Church street, in this city. He did his share 
towards erecting and maintaining that association. The gentle- 
man who has charge of the United States mail car is John C. 
Whittaker, Jr., formerly of Elkland, Tioga county. Pa., but now a 
resident of this city. He has served twelve years in the capacity 
of railway postal clerk, first from Corning to Elkland, on the 
Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim railroad, and was transferred 
several years ago to this road, where he has systematized the work 
in an admirable manner, and assisted the postmasters at Law- 
renceville, Tioga, Mansfield and Blossburg materially in their 
labors, by his process of ' pouching ' the mails that are delivered at 
these several offices, to be distributed to other points. Mr. Whit 



41 

taker is a model official and will be likely to be retained in the ser- 
vice. He is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman. ' All aboard.' 
Now we are off, Uncle Jonas, for Seeley Creek, the mountains and 
valley of the Tioga. You can now have a view of the Chemung 
river and the bridges that span it. The agent here at Southpoii; is 
Mr. Swan, an old gentleman of good business habits and highly 
regarded by the company. Now, Uncle Jonas, you can have a 
better view of the LaFrance steam fire engine company's works 
and also of the shops and round houses of the Northern Central 
railroad. Uncle Jonas, take a look away off yonder on the point 
of that mountain opposite of WeUsburg. Can you see that monu- 
ment there ?" 

"Oh, yes, Harry." 

"Well, that, Uncle Jonas, is a monument erected by the citi- 
zens of southern New York and northern Pennsylvania in the year 
18Y9 to commemorate the battle which occurred in the year 1779 
between General SuUivan's army and the British tories and In- 
dians. Many distinguished citizens were present from various 
sections of the country at its dedication, August 26, 1879. The 
governors of several states were present. When we visit 
WeUsburg I will tell you more about it. This station here is called 
Wells. The agent here E. J. Bailey, who does double duty, that 
of agent and telegraph operator. I was busy talking when we 
passed the junction between this road and the Northern Central. 
The operator at that place is H. P. Kniffin. We can look across 
the creek from here and see Pine City, where we visited a few 
days ago. Wells is quite an important station. There is a large 
tannery here, which affords considerable freight to the road— lum- 
ber, bark, hides and leather; besides, it is the point where the Pine 
City people receive their freight and where they take cars for El- 
mira or westward into the Tioga vaUey. From here, Uncle Jonas, 
we will soon commence to ascend quite rapidly. Elmira is 908 
feet above tide and Wells is eighty-seven feet higher, or 995 feet 
above tide. This is Seeley Creek station. It is 1,041 feet above 
tide. The station agent and telegraph operator is E. D. Eoff. 
Quite a considerable business is done here. Up, up we go. The 
next station. Uncle Jonas, is Millerton. It is in the town of Jack- 
son, Tioga county. Pa., and is situated 1,246 feet above tide. R. 
A. Mitchell is station agent and operator. Millerton is quite a 
brisk little village, containing a good school, several churches, a 
newspaper entitled the Millerton Advocate, edited with ability by 
Harry Graves, a brave soldier and a good printer and newspaper 
man; a lawyer's office, (for they must have justice done them, 
Uncle Jonas, in these Pennsylvania villages), which is presided 
over by Samuel E. Kirkendall, a good temperance man, a fine 
scholar and a sturdy democrat. The temperance and the democra- 
cy. Uncle Jonas, I suppose don't usually accompany each other. 
Well, there are exceptions to every rule. The population of Mil- 
lerton is about three hundred, I should judge. Still we are going 
up. Look, Uncle Jonas. See the tresthng we are passing, fully 
seventy-five feet above the highway." 

"I declare, Harry, this is quite a chasm." 

"This, Uncle Jonas, is a flag station called Trowbridge in honor 



42 

of one of the old citizens of Jackson. We have now arrived at an 
elevation 1,440 feet above the tide. The next station is the Sum- 
mit, 1, 594 feet above tide, and nearly YOO feet above Elmira, to be 
precise, 685 feet above that city. This is quite a little hamlet. 
The agent here is H, J. Tobey. He also is telegraph operator. 
When the road was constructed in 1876 this was a forest here, not 
a house in sight. We shall now commence to descend to the val- 
ley of the Tioga at the rate of about one hundred feet to the mile, 
or we shall descend 5Y2 feet to Tioga junction. But before we 
commence the descent, Uncle Jonas, just step to the rear car 
door, and look back to the eastward into the valley of the Che- 
mung." 

"I declare, Harry, that is a beautiful landscrape, to mark those 
lines of mountains as they appear in regular gradations, one above 
other. The only fault I find, Harry, in the western landscape is 
then* monotony, so to speak. There is nothing for the eye to rest 
on — one broad expanse of territory spread out on a plain. That is 
why I like the scenery of New York and Pennsylvania, the grand- 
eur of their mountain and valley scenery. How cool and bracing 
the air is — no malaria in this, Harry." 

*'Now, Uncle Jonas, let us sit down, and as we round this next 
curve, you can look out of the car window and catch a view of the 
valley of the Tioga and the mountains, rising higher and higher until 
their summits are lost in the clouds away to the southwest on 
Pine creek, and the Potter county line. This station is about 
abandoned. It was called Thompson's. Lumbering for several 
years was carried on here, a large mill was in operation, sawing 
hemlock lumber and lath and shipping the same by rail. About a 
year ago the mill was consumed by fire, and as the timber in this 
vicinity was about exhausted it was not rebuilt. You related your 
experience with the fire between Horseheads and Elmira, but if 
you had seen the forest fire that swept over this section a year ago 
last May, destroying bridges, mills, barns, dwellings, standing tim- 
ber and sawed lumber, I think you would have been ready to ac- 
knowledge that your fallow fires of sixty-five years ago could not 
compare with it. 

"This, Uncle Jonas, is Tioga Junction. We are now 1021 feet 
above tide. The agent here is J. S. Weeks. From here to Law- 
renceville the engine will back the cars down to connect with the 
trains on the Corning, Cowanesque & Antrim railroad and will re- 
turn here again. We might get off here and look around and get 
a fine cup of coffeo or tea from Mrs. Chamberlain, the wife of the 
gentleman who has charge of this section. Or do you prefer to go 
on to Lawrence ville ?" I prefer to go on — I want to see how 
that village looks." 

"Just as you think best, Uncle Jonas." 

' ' This, Harry, is a fine valley ! What railroad is that over west 
yonder ?" 

"That, Uncle Jonas, is the Corning, Cowanesque & Antrim rail- 
road. We shall soon be at Lawrenceville station, and I will ex- 
plain then, so that you will understand it, or perhaps I had better 
do it now. The old Blossburg & Corning railroad ran from Corn- 
ing to Blossburg, and that portion in New York was owned by 



43 

New Yorkers, and that portion in Pennsylvania by Philadelphians^ 
chiefly. About thirty years ago the Hon, Judge Magee, of Bath, 
pui'chased the New York state portion and relaid the track which 
had formerly been flat rails or snake head rails, with T iron. He 
induced the Pennsylvania owners to do the same thing with their 
road. Mr. Magee was then interested in the coal mines at Bloss- 
burg and subseqently at Fall Brook, which I will more fully ex- 
plain to you by and by. In 1872 Magee opened up miles south of 
Wellsboro and built a road from Lawrenceville to them, and also 
leased a road which was built from Lawrence to Elkland on the 
Cowanesque. He therefore consolidated these roads in name, 
terming them the Corning, Cowanesque & Antrim railroads. And 
recently the Cowanesque branch has been extended up into Harri- 
son Valley in Potter county and a connection has been made at 
Stokesdale with the Jersey Shore & Pine Creek railroad, thence 
connecting with the Reading railroad at Williamsport. The cars 
you saw were a coal train on that road. Here we are at Law- 
renceville Station. We are now 982 feet above tide. The agent 
here for this road is Cornelius B. Mather, a gentleman of flne 
business qualifications. The telegraph operator is W. R. Crocker. 
The train on the Corning, Cowanesquo & Antrim road is half an 
hour late. That, Uncle Jonas, will compel us to wait here thirty 
minutes." 

" Very well, that will give us a chance to look over Lawrence- 
ville some, or rather to talk over old events and speak of some of 
the old settlers with whom I was acquainted. Years ago, Harry, 
Lawrenceville was a busy town, and why she has not grown to be 
a city I can't see. Well, that don't matter; I was acquainted with 
the Hon. James Ford, Dr. Lewis Darling, Hiram Beebe, Daniel 
Seeley, Micajah Seeley, William Seeley, William Repusse, Job 
Gere, Clark Slawson, Moses Baldwin, Ira Kilbourn, the Ryans, 
Smith Stevens, Edward Stevens, Captain William Lindsley, (who 
lived on the Pennsylvania line in Lindsley, N. Y.,) Bradley Linds- 
ley, Eleazer Lindsley, Alexander Lindsley, Joseph Lindsley, 
Phineas Lindsley, Walter Lindsley, Eleazer Mulford, Jeremiah 
Mulford, Del. Backus, Joseph Miller, and in Lawrenceville, Par- 
don Damon, Curtis Parkhurst, Simeon Powers, Clarendon Rath- 
bone, Charles Ford, the Walkers — in fact, Harry, I knew most all 
the citizens of the place. Oh, years; I came near forgetting Dea- 
con Wells, John Barnes, Robert Stewart. Stewart then was an 
active young man, a millwright. In those days, Harry, we 
thought nothing of mounting a horse in Elmira and taking a ride 
up the river, or over the mountains to Lawrenceville. I really be- 
heve that people were more social and friendly then than now, 
perhaps not, yet it seems to me that such was the case. That gen- 
eration, Harry, has passed away, and I suppose if I should take the 
Daggett house omnibus and ride over town, I would not find any 
of the persons whom I have named, living." 

''Very few. Uncle Jouas. Your young friend, Robert Stewart, 
is living, D. C. Ford, son of Charles Ford, is living on the old 
homestead of his father — J. F. Rusling owns and resides in the 
James Ford mansion and is an active business man, a portion of 
the Lindsley family reside there, and the Walkers you mention 



44 

occupy their splendid farm of the Cowanesque, the widow of Moses 
Baldwin I think is alive and resides upon the farm on the west 
bank of the Tioga river but most all of the persons living there in 
1841, are dead or gone away and their places taken by citizens who 
have since made their homes there. The village has several times 
been visited by disastrous fires, destroying the business portion of 
the town, which has been very discouraging. The village now 
contams about four hundred inhabitants, a good hotel known as 
the Daggett House, several churches, a graded school, a newspaper 
offic?, the Lawrenceville Herald, a drug store, a machine shop, 
several grocery stores, a number of general stores, and is withal 
notwithstanding its misfortunes, a center of considerable trade. 
There is one thing that Lawrenceville has ever maintained, that is 
her fame for hospitality and good cheer. Her people are cordial, 
frank, open-hearted and charitable. 

"'The train is coming, Uncle Jonas, and we will be moving 
southward in a few moments. We are in the state of New York, 
now. Here is the state line which was located in the year 1786 by 
commissioners from New York and Pennsylvania. We are now 
ninety miles west of the Delaware river. The ninetieth mile stone 
stands over on the west bank of the Tioga river." 

"I think, Harry, after going up to Blossburgand the mines, that 
we must return by the highway. There are so many things I 
want to see and talk about." 

' ' We are off again. The farmers in this section for a number of 
years have been quite extensively engaged in the cultivation of 
tobbacco, which has, upon the whole, proved very profitable. 
Some years the price is low for tobacco and the farmers become 
somewhat discouraged, forgetting that the price of tobacco is as 
Hkely to fluctuate as the price of butter, potatoes, corn, wheat, 
oats, hay or horses and cattle. Nobody ever heard of a farmer 
refusing to raise potatoes, because he could only get twenty- five 
cents per bushel, when perhaps the ne%r-t year he could readily 
command seventy-five cents per bushel. Here we are at Micth- 
ells. This station is 1,022 feet above tide. The station agent here 
is Mrs. Mitchell." 

"Harry, I was acquainted with the older Mitchells. They were 
prominent men in this valley years ago." 

"One of their descendants, Uncle Jonas, the Hon. John I. 
Mitchell, is now one of the United States senators from Pennsyl- 
vania. He resides in Wellsboro, but was born here about forty- 
six years ago, and was raised upon the farm and received his edu- 
cation principally in this locality, although he attended the Louis-' 
burg Seminary in Union county, Pennsylvania, for a few terms. 
He represented this county several terms in the state legislature, 
and this district two terms in Congress, and was four years ago 
elected to the United States Senate for the full term of six years. 
In politics Mr. Mitchell is a republican. The next station i§ Tioga. 
The agent there is H. S. Alford, son of one of the early citizens, 
of that place. He also performs the duties of telegraph operator." 

" Willardsburg or Tioga, Harry, I recollect well, and its citizens. 
I came here about fifty years ago on a business trip. The rivalry 
between Willardsburg and Wellsboro was great. The Tioga people 



45 

pie had just established a newspaper, purchasing the material and 
fixtures of one that had suspended in Wellsboro, thus leaving the 
county seat without a paper. Doctor William Willard was then 
ahve and a very active and energetic man. I remember many of 
the inhabitants at that time. Among them were A. C. Bush, 
William Willard, WiUiam WiUard, Jr., Allen D. Calkins, Thomas 
J. Berry, Ambrose Millard, Elijah Depuo, J. S. Bush, James Good- 
rich, Uriah Spencer, Harris Hotchkiss, Vine Depue, Thomas Depue, 
Benjamin Depue, Mrs. Rachael Berry, Lyman Adams, John Gor- 
don, Gershom Wynkoop, Chauncey Ferry, Ebenezer Ferry, Hobart 
Graves, Levi Guernsey, Joseph Guernsey, Jacob Schiefflein, Sr., H. 
H. Potter, the Rev. Samuel McCullough, Wilham Garretson, besides 
many more whose names do not occur to me at present." 

" I believe it will be a good plan to return by the road by private 
conveyance, as we do not more than get fairly talking about the 
people of the town before we are hurried away. Tioga station is 
1,042 feet above tide. Here, Uncle Jonas, is a siding or short 
track which leads over the coke works in the southwestern por- 
tion of Tioga village. Mill Creek is a flog station, and yet there is 
considerable shipping done here. Lambs Creek is the next station. 
B. Lamb is the agent. Although there is nothing but that small 
shanty of a depot, still the freight and passenger traffic is consider- 
able. The elevation above tide here at Lambs Creek is 1,111 feet. 
Mansfield is the next station and one of the most important on the 
line. Its elevation above tide is 1, 140 feet. I am particular, Uncle 
Jonas, to tell you these elevations so that you may jot them down 
in your memory, and also show you at what a rate we are ascend- 
ing. The agent here at Mansfield is W. H. Kinney. He has an 
assistant. This is Smythe Park, a charming place, where fairs are 
annually held. We will visit it on our return. The next station 
is Canoe Camp Creek. The station agent here for many years was 
Thomas Jehff, Avho was killed by a flash of lightning while stand- 
ing on the depot platform in the month of August last. His 
widow, Mrs. Jeliff, attends to the duties of the station since the 
death of Mr. Jelitf. The elevation of this station is l,lt)3 feet 
above tide. The next station is Covington. The elevation at Cov- 
ington is 1,208 feet above tide. The agent and operator at Cov- 
ington is W. H. Lamkin. It is now, Uncle Jonas, only five miles 
to Blossburg, where we will arrive in a few minutes. There is a 
fine hotel there, the Seymour House, where we will take dinner 
and make our general headquarters while we remain in this local- 
ity. The elevation of Blossburg above tide is 1,848. The agent is 
B. J. Guernsey, who has been many years in the service of the 
company. He is assisted by Charles Rockwell, Kenyon Kilburn 
and Jacob Griffith. Blossburg is the most important station on 
the line of the road. The telegraph operator is Charles D. Utley, 
a gentleman every way competent to discharge the duties devolved 
upon him. Here we are at Blossburg. ' Sant ' has made up the 
lost time at Lawrenceville. I thought we were whirhng through 
the valley and over the road at a ra})id rate. Uncle Jonas, this is 
E. L. Updike, proprietor of the Seymour House. Mr. Updike, this 
is Uncle Jonas Lawrence, come to visit this section of the country 
for a few days." 

** You are welcome, Uncle Jonas." 



46 
BLOSSBUEG AND ITS ENVIRONS. 



HOW THE RAILROADS AND THE MINES HAVE DEVELOPED THE 

COUNTRY. 

"The day is so pleasant, Uncle Jonas, suppose we take chairs 
and go on the verandah and sit for an hour or more, where we 
can look over the borough. An incorporated village in this state, 
Uncle Jonas, is named a borough instead of a village. Blossburg 
is an incorporated borough and contains about three thousand in- 
habitants. Is it too cool for you. Uncle Jonas ? 

"Oh no, Harry." 

" Well, Uncle Jonas, I will give you a brief history of this hotel. 
After the railroad was completed here from Corning, in 1840, 
capitalists came in here from Philadelphia, in fact they had arrived 
as early as 1835. As I was relating, after the railroad was com- 
pleted, and the mines of coal and iron were opened up, John Gr. 
Boyd, of Philadelphia, who was directly and indirectly interested 
in the railroad and mining operations, conceived the idea of erect- 
ing a large and commodious hotel, one that would accommodate 
the traveling public, and one at which he could entertain his 
friends from Philadelphia and elsewhere. He therefore gave an 
outhne of his ideas to an architect and he drew up plans and speci- 
fications, which were approved by Mr. Boyd. The contract was 
then made with Phineas P. Cleaver in the year 1841, and he com- 
menced the erection of this building. For those days it bore the 
same relation to Blossburg as the Palmer House to Chicago. The 
banisters, rails and newel posts were of solid mahogany, were turn- 
ed and made in Philadelphia and brought here and are still in use. 
The house was finished ready for occupancy in 1842, and Edward 
Andrews installed as landlord. The house was subsequently in 
charge of Philemon Doud and Phineas P. Cleaver. It was aban- 
doned as a hotel some years thereafter and the various rooms rent- 
ed as offices. When the Morris Run railroad was constructed in 
1852-3, the office of the chief engineer. Colonel Jarrett, was here. The 
Tioga railway company for a number of years were the losses, and 
in the year 1873 purchased it and renovated and made some altera- 
tions in the interior, occupying three of the rooms on the north 
side on the first floor as a ticket office, telegraph office and an 
office for the superintendent of the road, and the remainder used 
as a hotel, with Albert Ward and George W. Morgan as landlords. 
They have had several successors, among whom is the present one, 
E. L. Updyke. Since its renovation in 1873 it has been kept in 
first-class order. 

"That building across the street is the car repair and machine 
shops of the Tioga & Elmira State Line railroad. The foreman in 
charge is Daniel H. Stratton, who has been years serving in that 
capacity. Stephen Holland is assistant foreman in the machine 
shop. James Kirkwood, Luke Fudge, Albert Fudge, Myron Strat- 
ton, Harry Boyle and Thomas Brown are machinists. In the 
blacksmith shop connected with the car and machine shop 
Are Robert Davie, James Rose, Samuel Landon, Jerry Healey, 



47 

Edward Rose and David Smith. In the car shop Edward Guern- 
sey is book-keeper and clerk, and the foreman of repairs is Thomas 
Evans. The shop men are George Richter, Sr., patternmaker; 
James Hiisted, George Morganstein, Stephen Randall are also em- 
ployed there. The force is light at present. Usually there are 
many more employed. The watchmen about the car shops, round 
houses, depot, freight depot, are Edward Gavigan, Edward Bam- 
berry, George Delounge, George Bambeny. The stationery en- 
gine is in chf.rge of Evan J. Evans. All the coal, timber, bark, 
lumber that you see. Uncle Jonas, passing through here, is weigh- 
ed at two offices. One located on the Arnot branch of the rail- 
road, with ]\Iart G. Lewis as weighmaster, and the other on the 
Morris Run branch of the Tioga railroad, and the Fall Brook road 
is weighed by Henry Holland and Frank Stratton. 

"Blossburg, until quite recently, was headquarters of the super- 
intendent of the road, but Robert B. Cable, at the Elmira office, is 
now superintendent, and Walter V. Calkins, who for many years 
was chief dispatcher and telegraph operator, has been transferred to 
Elmira. While we are upon this subject I will give you the names of 
the engineers, firemen, brakemen, conductors and other employes 
upon the several trains. The Elmira Express, which leaves Bloss- 
burg for Elmira at T:30 a. m., is manned by Wilham Green, engi- 
neer, who is one of the oldest engineers in point of service upon 
the road, has charge of the engine, Lloyd Higgins is his fireman. 
The conductor is Frank Higgins who has served many years in 
that capacity, and is one of the most obliging and accommodating 
gentlemen in the service of the company. George Richter, Jr., is 
baggage-master, also a first-class man, and Lewis Reifeldeifer is 
brakeman. This train arrives in Elmira about 10 o'clock in the 
forenoon, and leaves there for Blossburg about 5, arriving here at 
8:15 p. m. The way freight train is manned by Michael Clauhessey 
conductor, M. J. Delaney freight agent, and Thomas Kerwin, 
Nichols Nicholas, Charles Ferris and David Bauman, brakemen. 
The men on the train are distinguished for their attention to duty 
and the careful manner in which they receive and discharge the 
freight at the various stations on the line. That train leaves El- 
mira about 6 o'clock in the morning, arriving here about 5 o'clock. 
The coal trains are manned, one by James W. Maher, conductor, 
John Loughridge, Michael Kerwin and Samuel Howard, brake- 
men. Another coal train is manned by J. M. Horton, conductor, 
Samuel Caldwell, John Sutton, Lone. Boehm and Wilham Weaver, 
brakemen. The train running from Blossburg to Morris Run is 
engineered by James Green, one of the oldest engineers on the 
road. His fireman is Claude Green. The conductor is William 
M. Butler, who for more than twenty years has served in that 
capacity, trusty, careful and gentlemanly. The brakemen are 
Albert Welty, John Booth, Jr., and Henry Hanwell, aU careful 
and painstaking men. The train running from Blossburg to Arnot 
is manned by Warren Aldrich, conductor, and Warner Aldrich, 
Frederic Bosworth, Enoch Jones and Michael McCarthy, brake- 
men. The engineer is George Lewis, who has handled the throt- 
tle for twenty years or more and is one of the most trusted em- 
ployes of the company. His fireman is Drow Gillett. The Hoyt- 



48 

ville accommodation, which runs from Blossburg to Hoytville, is 
manned by William Kerwin, conductor; L. Secrist, baggage-mas- 
ter, and Thomas McCarthy and Michael Maloney, brakemen. The 
engineer is James Bonney, son of master mechanic P. Bonney, 
one of the best machinists in Pennsylvania. The fireman is Wil- 
liam Mould. The extra engineers who are both assigned to regu- 
lar and special duty are Letson Lownsbeny, Richard Hughes, 
Thomas Tremble, Frank Hebe and John Evans, jr., all prohcient 
in their profession and all respected citizens of Blossburg and occu- 
pying pleasant homes. I have thus been particular, Uncle Jonas, 
to give you the names and occupations which these railroad and 
shop employes discharge, and should be pleased to have you make 
their acquaintance. Y ou would find them an intelligent, courteous, 
honest and good class of citizens. They could relate many an in- 
teresting incident connected with their service, what distinguished 
men they had met, whom they had safely conducted to their des- 
tination, then hair-breadth escapes from perilous situations and 
give you many valuable ideas in relation to the construction of 
engines and the manner of operating them, give you points upon 
the most approved coal, passenger and freight cars, and many 
other lessons of value, and which every person should understand." 
" That is all very true, Harry. I have made it a rule of my life 
to become acquainted with as many different classes of laborers 
and mechanics as possible, and as far as that is concerned I have 
endeavored to become acquainted with every class in society who 
are engaged in any honorable pursuit or caUing, and I have listened 
with attention to what you have been relating. I will now speak 
of my first and second visits to Blossburg. The third visit you are 
here with me. My first visit to Blossburg was in the year 1824, 
sixty-two years ago. My father had business relations with Judge 
John H. Knapp, and he sent me up here with that gentleman. 
Judge Knapp was from Ehnira, or Newtown we then called it, 
and was a brother-in-law of the late Hon. Levi J. Cooley. Judge 
Knapp had located here as early as 1823, and had erected a furnace 
and was having a mill built about 100 rods southeast from the fur- 
nace. We left Elmira in the afternoon and drove up as far as 
Painted Post, and remained there over night at Erwin's. In the 
morning we forded the Conhocton river and followed the William- 
son road, cut out in 1792, fording the Canisteo five miles above 
Painted Post, and fording the Tioga river three miles from there, 
arriving at Robert Patterson's at Lmdley for dinner. Robert Pat- 
terson was one of the men who conducted General Charles William- 
son, in 1792, from Northumberland, Pa., to Bath, and he and his 
brother Benjamin discovered coal here in that year. After dinner 
we pushed on to Lawrenceville and reached Asa Mann's, at Mans- 
field, at night. We were quite heavily loaded. The next day we 
reached Blossburg a little after noon. Then there were not more 
than half a dozen dwelhngs in Blossburg. Judge Knapp had 
opened a small store, to accommodate the citizens and his work- 
men. Aaron Bloss had opened a hotel on the banks of the Tioga 
river, near the furnace of Judge Knapp, and on the Williamson 
road. He had lived there since 1806 — hunting, trapping and fish- 
ing, making but a small clearing. His woodshed was stored with 



49 

bear traps, wolf traps, fox and mink trr.ps, while in his bar room 
were guns and fishni^- tackle. The forest of stately pines, hem- 
locks and maple came down to his door. The Tioga river was 
literally full of the finest speckled trout, which could be caught at 
any time. The first night I remained here, the wolves kept up 
such a howling and yelping over yonder on that island (where you 
now see those three pine trees, the last of the Mohegans) that I 
could not sleep, I remained three days with Judge Knapp, getting 
acquainted in the meantime with Curtis Slratton, the nnllwright, 
Absalom Kingsbury, Samuel Weeks, Isaac Walker, Royal Walker, 
and Asahel Walker and several others whose names now escape 
my memory. A vein of coal had been opened up near the furnace, 
also a bed of iron ore, from which Judge Knapp was intendmg to 
make pig iron. The lime used was hauled from the head of Seiiuca 
lake or from Williamsport, over the Laurel Eidge mountains. 
There was something about the place, notwitlistanding the howling 
of the wolves, that was very atti-active. The mountain and forest 
scenery was grand, the fragrance of the fresh blown thoi-n tree, 
the clear mountain stream inliabited by myriads of fish, made a 
lasting impression upon me. I returned home on horse back over 
the same route that the judge and I had taken, making, however, 
a much quicker trip. When the railroad was completcxl I again 
visited the place in 1840, and came near selling out in Elmira and 
making Blossburg my permanent home. In the fourteen years 
that had elapsed since my first visit, quite a change had taken 
place. Several hotels had becni erected, one by Mr. D. P. Free- 
man, a large and commodious house, as nearly as large as this, a 
number of stores had been opened, too many I thought for the 
business. The coal had been opened up on the Clemmons' property 
and the Arbon coal company had been formed. The Hon. Horatio 
Seymour, then a young man with his associates, the Hon. Amos 
P. Granger, and Hon. Thomas Davis, of New York, the Hon, 
James Ford, Clarendon Eathbone, and Curtis Parklnnst, of Law- 
rence ville had made extensive purchases and were selling village 
lots. There was no land to be bought only in small parcels of one- 
quarter or half an acre. The Arbon coal company had purchased 
several thousand acres, embracing, with the exception of the Sey- 
mour and Granger purchase, all the desirable land or lands of any 
kind within a radius of several miles of the village. It was this 
state of affairs which prevented me from locating here at that time. 
I remained here nearly two weeks, but saw no opening winch i 
deemed advantageous, I then made the acquaintance of Dr. Lewis 
Saynisch, president of the Arbon coal company, a very pleasant 
and agreeable German, James H. Guhck, who was their superin- 
tendent, Franklin R. Smith, Brown Whitney, Philemon Doud, 
Joseph Yonkin, Francis Welch, Alexander H. Gaylord, John L. 
Evans, David Chatfield, Dr. Joseph P. Morris, Thomas Turner, 
Benjamin Hall, John James, James R. Wilson, John G. Boyd, 
Clarendon Rathbone and a few others. A great rivalry existed 
between the villages of Covington and Blossburg. The village of 
Blossburg was situated in the township of Covington, and the 
question of dividing the township was being agitated very strongly. 
There was no rivalry from any place to the southward or eastward. 



50 

The Block House, now Liberty, was a mere hamlet and ten miles 
distant, and there were no settlements to the eastward until you 
reached McNetts, twelve miles distant, then on the road leading 
from Elmira to Williamsport. I returned home via Corning. 
Corning then was not as large as Blossburg; only a few buildings 
were erected among the pine stumps. It was, however, quite a 
stirring business place, as the old Erie railroad was then in course 
of construction upon the pile system, which failed, and which was 
ten years later built upon a different plan and successfully operated 
up to the present J' 

" Well, Uncle Jonas, you speak of the rivalry between Covington 
and Blossburg and the threatened division of the township. The 
subject of division was agitated until it was accomplished in June, 
1841, and separate township officers elected. The township and 
village continued to increase in population, clnirches and school 
houses were erected, the mines developed and shipments of coal 
increased. The old furnace had been erected by Judge Knapp and 
by him abandoned, was repaired and put in operation, and in 1847 
a manufactory was estabhshed by Wilham Dezang, of Geneva, for 
the making of window glass and other improvements were insti- 
tuted. The Arbon coal company had failed and the mines had 
passed into the hands of William M. Mallory & Co., of Corning. 
They in turn had failed and their lease about thirty years ago be- 
came the property of the Hon. John Magee, who for several years 
operated the^ei. with Duncan S. Magee, superintendent. About 
the time I spoke of this morning of the change of the old strap 
rail to a T rail, new mines were opened at Morris Eun, four miles 
eastward, by rail from here, and a railroad consti-ucted to them by 
a company entitled the Tioga Improvement company, of which I 
wiU tell you more in the future. In 1859 a company was formed 
entitled the Fall Brook Coal company, consisting of the Hon. John 
Magee, Duncan S. Magee and James H, Gulick, who opened up mines 
at Fall Brook and constructed a railroad from Blossburg to that 
point, a distance of about seven miles. That was a sad blow to 
Blossburg, for mining ceased here, and the miners and their fami- 
lies removed to Fall Brook, reducing the population of Blossburg 
from sixteen hundred down to less than eight hundred. In 1862, 
however, the village began to revive. The Tioga railroad company 
removed their shops from Corning to Blossburg and that revived 
the business prospects of the village materially. April 11, 1866, 
the Blossburg coal company was organized, -consisting of Constant 
Cook, John Arnot, Charles Cook, Henry Sherwood, Franklin N. 
Drake, Ferral C. Dininy, Henry H. Cook and Lorenzo Webber, 
who constructed a railroad from Blossburg l^ur miles southwest to 
their mines. A mining town was built up known as Arnot, of 
which I will tell you more about when we visit it. This enterprise 
materially strengthened Blossburg. Thus you perceive, Uncle 
Jonas, that there are three railroads centering here at Blossburg 
from the mines. But to resume — Blossburg continued to increase 
in population. There were three villages in the township, viz.: 
Morris Kun, Arnot and Blossburg, with a total population of about 
six thousand inhabitants, with only one place to hold elections, 
Blossburg. Accordingly in August, 1871, the borough of Blossburg 



51 

was incorporated. That left the villages of Arnot and Morris Run 
eight miles apart, with only one polling place, and the space be- 
tween these villages, to quite a large extent, occupied by the bor- 
ough of Blossburg. In the year 1872 the township of Hamilton 
was formed from iBloss township, and so arranged that it included 
the village of Morris Run, where all the population was centered 
excepting two or three families. By that arrangement the village 
of Arnot was made a polling place, where all the people of the re- 
maining township of Bloss were located, with the exception of a 
few families on Maple Hill. Had Blossburg been able to have held 
the population in her territory she might have been incorporated 
as a city with three wards, for the population now within a radius 
of five miles is over 10,000 people." 

" When the Tioga railroad shops were removed here from Corn- 
ing in 1862, Mr. Levi H, Shattuck was the superintendent of the 
railroad. He also made it his residence, and continued to reside 
here for twenty-two consecutive years, looking after every interest 
^;onnected with the road. He had been ten years superintendent 
of the road before his removal here, making an aggregate of thirty- 
two years that he had watched over its interests, making himself per- 
sonally familiar with all of its workings. Three years ago a com- 
pany was formed entitled the Arnot & Pine Creek Railroad Co., and 
Mr. Shattuck was elected president. This was a virtual extension 
of the Tioga railroad. In addition to the other duties devolved 
upon him, he gave the construction of this new road or extension 
a general supervision. These increased responsibilities and the 
years of continued watchfulness told upon his system, and a few 
months ago he resigned his position as superintendent, but still 
acting as president of the Arnot & Pine Creek railroad. He was 
given a valuable testimonial upon his resignation, and is now en- 
joying a beautiful home situated upon the west shore of the Tioga 
river near Mansfield, surrounded by all the comforts which a long 
fife of usefulness entitles him to enjoy." 

"Blossburg was visited by a severe conflagration March 6, 1873, 
which destroyed the entire business portion of the borougli. AH 
the way. Uncle Jonas, from where that elegant bank building of 
Pomeroy brothers and F. E. Smith is now located, south to the 
Odd Fellows' block was one mass of rums. But scarcely had the 
smoking ruins been extinguished before temporaiy buildings were 
erected. The citizens' committee evinced commendable enterprise 
and fortitude. Several brick blocks were erected, where before 
wooden structures had stood. Among the sufi'erers from the fire 
were Messrs. Harry T. and Fred L. Graves, editors and proprietors 
of the Blossburg Register, a weekly newspaper which had been 
established a few years previous. They also caught the spirit of 
the moment, and although their office was entirely destroyed, yet 
in a few weeks their Register was again issued. A fire department 
was soon thereafter organized and without going into a detailed 
history of the trials and stniggles with inefficient machinery, suffice 
it to say that BlossbuT-g to-day has one; of the most efficient fire 
departments in northern Pennsylvania, a fine steamer, and two 
hose companies that cannot be excelled for promptness, activity 
and good work. This object has been attained largely through the 



52 

efforts of Mart G. Lewis, who has for many years been chief of the 
department, and seconded by our efficient burgess, Major George 
W. Morgan, and our worthy councihnen. You will observe by 
casting your eye about, Uncle Jonas, that Blossburg is centrally 
located for manufacturing and shipping. The capacity of the glass 
factory yonder is about 36,000 boxes of window glass annually, the 
capacity of the saw mills are about 10,000,000 feet annually, the tan- 
nery about 500 sides of sole leather per day; besides, the work 
turned out by planing mill, foundry and machine shops add much 
to the interest of the borough. One great draw-back at Blossburg 
has been that there has been too much coal in the mountains sur- 
rounding it, or in this Blossburg region." 

" This, Uncle Jonas, may appear to you as strange logic. Well, 
let me explain. In the first place these coal companies are non- 
residents. Their local interests arts in Elmira, Corning and Wat- 
kins. The coal has been so plenty that instead of these companies 
seeking to establish a home market near their mines, by fostering 
the establishment of foundries, machine shops, edge tool manufac- 
tories that would consume their coal near where it was mined, and 
create a freight traffic equal to their tonnage now of coal, they have 
been seeking a foreign market for it. You would naturally think 
that these several coal companies furnish the people of Blossburg 
with coal, but such is not the case. They furnish the glass factory 
and their own shops and one or two other places. While individu- 
als who own mines near here furnish eight hundred families in 
Blossburg and vicinity with all the coal they use. These compa- 
nies have so much coal that they are in busy times shipping right 
through Blossburg from four to six thousand tons per day, which 
finds a market as far west as Colorado, south to New Orleans, 
north into Canada, and east to Boston and the New England states. 
Half of that amount should be consumed in the valley of Tioga, 
and it would be if the companies had been as industrious in foster- 
ing manufactories in the valley as they have been in extending 
their lines of railroads. As soon as the coal begins to become 
scarce here these companies will either abandon their mines by 
selling out to individuals or companies with less capital and less 
railroad connections, who will take hold and develop a permanent 
home trade, by offering inducements for industrial establishments 
to locate in this valley." 

"There was originally about fifty million tons of coal in the 
Blossburg region. About sixteen millions have been mined in 
Tioga county and shipped out of the county, a large portion of it 
at a price scarcely above the cost of production. The owners of 
the mines have been governed by a mistaken policy, to hurry this 
coal upon the market regardless of price, when they should have 
let it remain in the mountains as a reserve, or endeavored to have 
had it consumed by manufactories, which would have given the 
railroads additional freight, increased the population and thereby 
increased the passenger traffic. The owners of pine timber did the 
same thing. There was originally about one billion five hundred 
million feet of white pine timber in this county, and the owners 
hurried it off to a southern market, realizing in the gross not more 
than ten million dollars, which, had it been properly managed, 



53 

would have brought forty miUion dollars. If a change in policy is 
adopted, and the coal reserved, other interests will then be devel- 
oped. The mineral springs, the iron ore, the glass sand rock and 
fii'e clay will then receive attention. Here, surrounding Blossburg, 
are some of the very best mineral springs in America. As soon as 
the mania for shipping away coal ceases, these springs will be de- 
veloped and great sanitariums will be erected that will vie with the 
celebrated Baden-Baden of the old world. Their medicinal quali- 
ties have been analyzed by the best and most reliable chemists in 
the land, and pronounced 'one of the most remarkable mineral 
waters in existence.' I expect to see in a few years thousands of 
persons from all sections of the country to regain their health. I 
expect to see fire-brick yards estabhshed, and glass manufactories 
in great numbers, for the sand rock is here, the fire clay is here, 
the coal, coke and wood are here. I also expect to see edge tool 
manufactories established here, for the finest of steel can be temp- 
ered with the run of mines of the Blossburg vein, or if coke is 
preferable that is also at hand. Although Blossburg may now not 
present the most pleasing appearance, she will yet be a city. There 
are to-day, owned by individuals, who cannot ship their coal, at 
least one million five hundred thousand tons, in these hills here 
within the limits of the corporation which will yet be used for 
manufacturing purposes, generating steam for driving machinery. 
Things may look a little discouraging for Blossburg now, but I 
believe she possesses the location and the elements of a great indus- 
trial and health-restoring center. Had there been less coal here 
she would now occupy that position. The principle is taking root, 
and I have done all that I could to inculcate it into the minds of 
manufacturers that the place to manufacture cheaply and advan- 
tageously was where the raw material was found; that a manu- 
facturer, for instance, did not nor could not afford to pay $2 or $3 
freight per ton on a ton of coal and iron ore that was worth only 
$1.50 per ton at the mines, when for the same money he could ship 
a ton of manufactured iron or steel, which was worth from $22 to 
$500 a thousand miles. The place to manufacture cheaply. Uncle 
Jonas, is in the section where the raw material is cheap, where the 
rents and lands are cheap, and the place to sell is in the cities. To 
illustrate, yonder is an island containing eight or ten acres. It 
probably could be bought for $2,000. There is sufficient room to 
establish a large glass or edged-tool establishment. The same 
amount of land in a city would cost from one hundred to two hun- 
dred thousand dollars. The difference in the interest on the invest- 
ment of that one item alone would be from five to ten thousand 
dollars annually. Suppose that the estabhshment used fifty tons 
of coal per day, which here would cost from $50 to $70, while in a 
city remote from the mines it would cost $3 per ton; that would 
be a saving in favor of the country locality of $50 or $75 per dav, 
a saving of at least $400 per week, or from $15,000 to $25,000 per 
annum. Here, then, are two items, cost of site and fuel, which 
favor the country, or such a place as this, by an aggregate of nearly 
$40,000 per annum. Forty thousand dollars saved in these two 
items would help materially in oihng up the machinery of the 
establishment, or in paying dividends to the company who had 



54 

invested their money in the enterprise. I could go on at length 
and enter into details which would convince any reasonable man 
of this proposition : Manufacture where the raw material is pro- 
duced, and sell in great commercial centers. Have your shop in 
the country and your salesroom in the city." 

'' Perhaps I have been a little tedious, Uncle Jonas, but I wanted 
to speak of those things. Suppose we go in and look over the 
Elmira Advertiser and other city papers and make arrangements 
for going to Arnot and Hoytville to-morrow. " 

" Are you through with the Advertiser, Uncle Jonas?" "Yes, 
Harry." "Well, 1 think we had better retire for the night. I 
believe in the old Frankhn maxim — 

' 'Early to bed, and early to rise, 
Makes one healthy, wealthy and -wise." 

" What a fine room, Harry; I did not expect to see anything like 
this here. High walls, good ventilation, a delightful fire in the 
grate; this is as cosy as a sitting room at home. I noticed, Harry^ 
before we left the veranda, that there was a fine brick and stone 
building over yonder on the hillside, what pubHc building is that ?" 
"That, Uncle Jonas, is the Blossburg graded school house. The 
principal is Mr. G. R. Smith, the preceptress Miss Lizzie Gavigan, as- 
sisted by Misses Dora James, Bell Horton, Miss Dunsmore'Miss Hyde 
and Mina Doud. It was erected about ten years ago at a cost of about 
thirteen thousand dollars. There is also another school house in 
the southern portion of the borough, employing two teachers. Miss 
Anna Dunsmore and Miss Anna Clement. The citizens of Bloss- 
burg deserve much credit for their intelligence and pubhc spirit in 
providing ample school facilities and the employment of competent 
teachers." 

"I noticed several churches." 

" Yes, Uncle Jonas, there are six church edifices in the borough. 
The one standing nearly in front of us on the corner of Williamson 
and Carpenter streets is the Baptist church, and the minister is 
the Rev. Frederick K. Fowler, a man highly respected in the com- 
munity by all denominations. He served gallantly in the army 
during the late rebellion as a private soldier, and at the close of the 
war studied for and was admitted into the ministry. He is an able 
pulpit orator and a worthy christian gentleman. He has been 
engaged here for the past eight years. The church across the river 
is the Methodist. The minister in charge is the Rev. Robert 
Brewster, who is an able preacher and much respected by the con- 
gregation and those who have had the pleasure to make his ac- 
quaintance. But the trouble is with the Methodists, they shift 
their ministers around so much that just as they get comfortably 
located and acquainted with their congregations and doing a good 
work they are transferred to another field to go through the 
same program, thus wearing out their ministers in removing from 
one section to another and in getting acquainted with their mem- 
bers. The Episcopalians have a fine church, but no rector at 
present. The church is nicely located a few rods north of the 
Methodist church. On this side of the river the Welsh congrega- 
tionahsts have a snug little church, and a very able minister in the 
person of the Rev. J. M. Evans, who is a young man of more than 



55 

ordinary abilities, a fine scholar and an elegant preacher. Services 
are held in Welsh and EngUsh. The Irish CathoUcs have a neat 
church and parsonage. The Eev. Patrick J. Murphy has charge 
of it. He is a gentleman of fine scholastic acquirements, a good 
disciplinarian and is much respected by the community. He has 
quite an extensive field of labor. He ministers at Morris Eun 
Arnot, Fall Brook and Union, besides his home charge, and is an 
indefatigable and earnest worker. During his ministrations three 
new churches have been erected. In the southern portion of the 
boro the Catholic Polanders have a neat church and a parochial 
school. In the latter the Polish and English languages are taught. 
The congregation is composed of Poles from Blossburg, Morris Eun 

and Arnot. The minister in charge is the Eev. Father 

an unpronouncable name. Uncle J onas, but who is an energetic 
priest, enforcing order and good morals among his parishioners to 
a great extent. The Hon. Horatio Seymour, having been a prop- 
erty holder here, has contributed largely towards the erection of 
all these churches. This hotel is named in his honor. There are 
lodges of Odd Fellows, Free Masons, Catholic Temperance society, 
Knights of Honor, with a large membership, which expend quite a 
considerable amount of money for charitable and benevolent pur- 
poses." 

" Harry, what music is that ?" 

''That, Uncle Jonas, is the Blossburg cornet band practicing in 
their rooms near here. That baud has a fine reputation for their 
excellent music. It has been organized ten years or more ; was at 
one time the regimental band of the Twelfth regiment of Pennsyl- 
vania state national guard, and held that position when the regi- 
ment was consolidated by order of the adjutant-general of the 
state. It was called the Twelfth regiment band. It has gained a 
fiine reputation in Pennsylvania and New York, and by many it is 
conceded to be the best in northern Pennsylvania and southern 
New York. For a number of years it was led by Dr. Nelson Ingram, 
a fine musician, but when he removed to Norfolk, Virginia, the 
leadership was assumed by Charles Ely, a skillful musician, who 
is now occupying that position. The band is composed of some of 
the best citizens of Blossburg, gentlemen who are distinguished for 
their musical talent and gentlemanly qualities. They are finely 
uniformed, and their major is chief burgess, George W. Morgan, a 
great lover of music and a man of fine and dignified presence. 
During the sj^ring and summer months the band give concerts from 
the veranda of this hotel every Saturday evening, the citizens 
turning out in great numbers to listen to their exquisite music. 
The citizens of Blossburg and Tioga county take a just pride in 
that organization. Perhaps, Uncle Jonas, before we leave this 
section Ave may have an opportunity of hearing it play." 

' ' Is there an opera house here, Harry f 

' ' Not at present. Uncle Jonas. There was a fine hall here fifty 
by eighty-five feet, with a fine stage and curtains, but unfortunately 
it was destroyed by fire a few months ago and has not been rebuilt. 
There is a very neat small hall here in that stone block you saw 
this afternoon over on Main or Williamson street. Any small 
gathering can be accommodated there. But large assembhes meet 
in the skating rink. " 



56 



" What ! have they a skating rink in this place ?" 

"Yes, Uncle Jonas, and a very large one for a borough of this 
size. Do you object to them, Uncle Jonas ?" 

" Well, not ex-a-ct-1-y, but I think dancing is preferable to those 
requiring amusements of that kind, yet in the abstract I can't sec 
anything very criminal in roller skating. But, like any other 
amusement, it can be carried to excess. 1 declare, Harry, it is 
getting late. Between this cheerful fire and your conversation the 
iime has passed rapidly. It is understood then, Harry, that we go 
to Arnot and Hoytville to-morrow." 

"Yes, Uncle Jonas, we will take the Hoytville accommodation, 
with 'Billy' Kerwin conductor. Good-night !" 

" Did you rest well last night. Uncle Jonas ?" 

"Yes, indeed." 

"Well we have plenty of time to get breakfast before the train 
leaves for Hoytville. The porter will soon have a fire for you to 
get up by and dress." 

" Oh, never mind that, Harry, the room is warm enough." 

" I want to introduce you before we leave to J. D. Shultz, the 
supervisor of the Tioga branch. His office is in this building, 
formerly occupied by the superintendent, L. H. Shattuck. Mr. 
Shultz is a practical civil engineer and has had a large experience 
in the construction of railroads, giving them his personal attention 
in all of the details, and consequently is eminently fitted for the 
responsible position he occupies. Among the many railroads upon 
which he has hitherto been engaged was the West Shore, between 
Syracuse and Buffalo. His supervision now extends from Hoyt- 
ville to Elmira, v^th headquarters at Blossburg. It is seldom that 
supervisors of tracks are practical engineers, and his employment 
in that capacity is a step in the right direction. And his mode of 
inspection of the track is different from that usually in practice. 
Instead of boarding a train running at the rate of thirty miles per 
hour, and seated in the rear seat of a passenger car, he has a veloc- 
ipede which he places upon the track and propels himself slowly 
over the road, examining every joint, chair, culvert, bridge, frog 
and siding. He is therefore in possession of the knowledge of the 
actual condition of the road, and can give the section foremen in- 
structions what to do from personal knowledge. We wiU go down 
to breakfast now. Uncle Jonas. 

"We had better leave our baggage here. Uncle Jonas, as wo 
shall return this evening." " All aboard for Hoytville." "Take 
this seat, Uncle Jonas. Here, Uncle Jonas, is where the raih'oads 
branch, one track leading to Morris Run, the middle track to Fall 
Brook and the right hand track upon which we are switching to 
Hoytville. Yonder to the left is the site of the furnace erected by 
Judge Knapp in 1825, now occupied by T, J. Mooers as a foundry 
and machine shop. Here is the Tioga river, rather small stream 
to be called a river, but in times of high water it is a rapid and 
turbulent stream. This mill here on the left hand side of the track 
is owned by the Blossburg coal company and is a portion of tlio 
franchise of the Tioga branch of the Erie*. The mill is usually in 
operation about eight months in the year, cutting out about 500,000 
feet of lumber per month or 4,000,000 in eight months. It is pro- 



57 

vided with a powerful engine and all the necessary appliances for 
good work. The foreman is James H. Mold, an industrious and 
careful manager, who has just completed the erection of that fine 
cottage you see over yonder on the Williamson road. Mr. Mold 
has held the position of foreman for a number of years. The head 
sawyer is Andrew Parker, the setter is Willard Leisering, the lum- 
ber measurer and shipper is N. B. Preston, and the engineer is 
Thomas Cowley, all tiusty and tried workmen in their several 
vocations. The number of men employed is sixteen. The large 
buildings with that tall brick chimney or stack is the Monroeville 
tannery, owned by Messrs. William Hoyt, Oliver Hoyt and Mark 
Hoyt, under the firm name of Hoyt Bros., No. 72 Gold street, New 
York city. The tannery, I said, is known as the Monroeville 
tannery, although situated in Blossburg. About seventy-five men 
are employed here in the manufacture of sole leather exclusively. 
The superintendent is T. C. Peck, who has been in the employment 
of the firm for the past twenty years — a gentleman well calculated 
to fill so responsible a charge. The book-keeper, cashier and bark 
measurer is A. E. Botchford, who also is an employe, having 
served thu-teen years with the firm, an evidence of the confidence 
and trust that is placed in him by the firm. George Ludwig also 
holds a responsible position. This tannery consumes from ten to 
twelve thousand cords of hemlock bark annually, and turns out 
from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy-five thou- 
sand sides annually. In other words, it would take a drove of 
seventy-five or eighty thousand of your Illinois four year old steers 
to supply this tannery one year in hides — and the bark from nine 
to twelve million feet of hemlock to keep it supplied with bark. 
You recollect that I told you about the skating rink last night, 
Uncle Jonas, well here on the left enclosed by that high fence is 
Brooks' bicycle and foot racing track. So you perceive that these 
people, notwithstanding they have to work hard, are provided with 
means of amusements and sports. The track is owned by J. 
Brooks, father of the celebrated John Brooks, the bicyclist. That 
is his residence here on the right. There in that shady retreat are 
the trout ponds of Messrs. Andrews & Morgan. There are seven 
ponds intended for the hatching and propagation of trout. It is a 
pleasant place now, but I am told that many improvements are in 
contemplation. By the way Uncle Jonas, there is more profit in 
raising trout, than there is in raising beef and pork. With clear 
mountain spring water, and with less capital than is required by a 
moderate farmer, trout can be raised and marketed ^vith three 
times more profit than cattle and swine. The highway leads to 
Liberty or the Block house, Uncle Jonas." 

"I recollect that road, Harry, as far back as when the Bellmans 
kept a wayside inn on that road a few hundred rods above here." 

"This land upon either side here belongs to the Fall Brook coal 
company and containing large deposits of coal, which in time wiU 
be opened up and developed. They have been holding these fields 
in reserve. There are almost four thousand five hundred acres in 
the tract. 



68 
HOYTVILLE AND ARNOT. 



SOCIAL FEATURES, MERCANTILE, MINING AND MANUFACTURING ENTER- 
PRISES. 

''This stream is known as Johnson's creek. Do you observe 
that fine quahty of moulding sand, Uncle Jonas, there in that cut ? 
It is found here in inexhaustible quantities, beside the same rock,, 
suitable for the manufacture of glass. We are now approaching 
Arnot. The smoke you see rising is from the coke ovens. There 
are two hundred of them making the very best quahty of coke 
manufactured in America. While perhaps there may be some 
that equal it, none surpass it in its adaptability for furnace and other 
purposes for which coke is generally used. For domestic use it 
cannot be excelled. There is no smoke, no gas, nothing disagree- 
able in the smell when used in the cooking range, but a clear, 
steady heat, and there is no good reason why coke should not in 
America, as well as England, be used exclusively for locomotive 
use on locomotives drawing passenger trains. In England a pass- 
enger can ride five hundred miles without soiling his clothes in the 
least, but here in America the passenger is annoyed by smoke and 
coal-dust cinders, and his clothes are destroyed in riding fifty miles. 
It is an insult to American machinists to say that they cannot con- 
struct a locomotive that will burn coke and make as good time and 
speed in America as they can in Great Britain. These ovens were 
constructed. Uncle Jonas, under the direction of Simon B. Elliott, 
fox the Blossburg coal company in the years 1879-80. That high 
building on the right of the track is a coal washer and crusher. 
All the coal used in the manufacture of coke is first crushed fine 
and its impurities cleansed by water, and also all the smithing coal 
undergoes the same process, thereby putting upon the market a 
coal unsurpassed. The capacity of the crusher and washer is about 
2,700 tons per day, and is the largest establishment of the kind in 
Pennsylvania or "elsewhere in the United States. The product of 
these ovens, as well as the coal mines, are controlled by the Erie 
company. I have referred in a former conversation, Uncle Jonas, 
but I will give you a brief history of it now." 

ARNOT. 

"The Blossburg coal company was incorporated by an act of the 
legislature of Pennsylvania approved April 11, 1866. The incorpo- 
rators were Constant Cook, .John Arnot, Charles Cook, Henry 
Sherwood, Franklin N. Drake, Ferral C. Dininny, Henry H. Cook 
and Lorenzo Webber. Constant Cook was a prominent banker 
and business man of Bath, N. Y. ; John Arnot was a banker and 
one of the foremost citizens of Elmira; Charles Cook was a banker 
and distinguished citizen of Havana, N. Y. ; Henry Sherwood was 
a prominent lawyer of Corning, N. Y. ; Franklin N. Drake was a 
prominent business man and lumberman of the upper waters of 
the Conhocton river; Ferral C. Dininny was a lawyer of distinc- 
tion from Addison, N. Y. ; Henry H: Cook was a prominent citizen 
of Bath, N. Y., and Lorenzo Webber was a successful business man 
of Watkins, N. Y., later of Elmira. No stronger or more rehable 



59 

company was ever formed in northern Pennsylvania. It repre- 
sented all the elements of success in capital and business experi- 
ence. The company purchased several thousand acres of valuable 
coal and timber land, and was by the charter permitted to construct 
a sufficient number of miles of railroad to enable them to transport 
their coal to a connecting Hne. In the summer of 1866 they con- 
structed a railroad from Blossburg to this place, a distance of about 
four miles, in the meantime erecting a saw mill for cutting out lumber 
to erect the necessary dwellings, shops, schutes, stores and offices. 
The site of the village was covered with a heavy growth of hem- 
lock, beech, maple and other timber. This had to be removed to 
make way for the contemplated buildings. For several months 
Messrs. Webber and Drake gave the work their personal attention,. 
Mr. Drake removing from Steuben county to Blossburg, the better 
to oversee the preliminary developments. About the year 1867 the 
company purchased the railroad from Blossburg to the state line 
at Lawrenceville, twenty-five miles, and from Blossburg to Morris 
Run, four miles, aggregating about thirty-four miles with what- 
they already owned. Ferral C. Dininny, one of their corporators, 
was selected as superintendent, which position he occupied very 
satisfactorily until he severed his connection with the company by 
selling out and engaging in the anthracite coal trade. By the way,. 
Uncle Jonas, when we get back to Elmira we must call on Mr. 
Dininny. He has built a large and very costly residence on the 
Colonel Foster farm. But to proceed. The company proceeded to 
erect buildings as fast as possible and to open up the mines and to 
increase their domain by adding several thousand acres more of 
valuable timbered land. Like all new enterprises it had some 
drawbacks, but as early as 1873, they mined and shipped to market 
three hundred and twenty-one thousand, two hundred and seven 
tons of merchantable coal, besides quite a large amount of timber 
and lumber. Thus did the company continue to prosper until 
about ten years ago, when some of the members withdrew, and 
Franklin N. Drake became the president and held that position 
until the company sold out their interest to the Erie railroad com- 
pany about two years since. During, the presidency of Mr. Drake, 
new openings were made, the coke ovens constructed and many 
valuable improvements made. The sale of coal increased and the 
reputation of the coal and coke was established upon a firm basis. 
There are now about 400 dwellings, several churches and school 
houses, besides the necessary shops, mills and stores, schutes and 
weigh offices required. The population is variously estimated from 
2,800 to 3,000 persons. During the construction of the Arnot and 
Pine Creek railroad from Arnot to Hoytville, Arnot probably con- 
tained 4,000 people. The past year has been a severe one for the 
miners, the coal trade being dull and the mines not working more 
than one-half time, and some months less than half time. The 
miners are of different nationalities. English, Irish, Scotch, 
Welsh, Swede, Polish and German. As a class they are very social 
and companionable, fond of music, lodges, churches and associa- 
tions. A mutual and aid society entitled the "Friendly Society" 
has at times been very strong here. There are a large number of 
Odd Fellows, quite a few Free Masons, besides Knights of Honor, 



60 

Knights of Pythias and other societies. Many of the miners are 
great readers and are well informed. A pubhc reading room was 
maintained here for several years. They are also very fond of 
music both vocal and instrumental, have fine choirs, glee clubs, 
orchestras and brass bands." 

"The superintendent in charge is H. J. Landrus,* a gentleman 
who has served many years in that capacity and is familiar with 
every portion of the v/ork. He is a native of the township of Bloss 
and was employed several years before the war as weigh -master at 
Morris Run. He resigned his position in that place to enlist in the 
service of his country. At the close of the war he came home and 
was employed as book-keeper for the Blossburg coal company and 
finally promoted to the position of superintendent, served in that 
capacity several years when he resigned and was elected sheriff of 
Tioga county. He is a staunch republican. Before he had com- 
pleted his term of sheriff he was prevailed upon to again accept 
the position as superintendent, which he did, appointing a deputy 
to perform his official duties. He is a gentleman of fine physique 
and a person of great practical knowledge in business affairs and 
the management of mining operation. Civil engineer and surveyor 
R. A. Wentworth, is a young man of fine acquirements who has 
recently been engaged. In the paymaster's office Frederic Win- 
grave, an old employe, is the cashier, assisted by William M. Duns- 
more, with F. H. Dartt and F. H. Hyde clerks. The overseer at 
the mines is John Dunsmore, a practical miner of long experience, 
who is assisted by John Hill. Schute boss, WiUiam B. Gilmore, 
The weigh master is James N. Patterson. The coke ovens are in 
charge of Alexander Logan, who has competent workmen and 
assistants. In the store J. L. Higgins is manager. Mr. Higgins 
has filled this responsible position for many years, is a trusted em- 
ploye and a fine merchant. The clerks are Richard Smith, Jolm 
Burke, WiUiam R. Logan, George C. Lee and Matthew Blair, 
gentlemen who have been long employed and thoroughly compet- 
ent and reliable. There are three schools maintained in the village, 
Andrew B. Dunsmore is principle of number one, assisted by Miss 
Kate VanNess; number two Miss Kate Neil and Ella Mclnroy; 
number three Miss Aggie Logan, Mamie Smettem, Laura Brown 
and Mina Hall." 

' ' The company are owners of a first-class steam fire engine and 
the Dunsmore hose company constitute their fire department. It 
is a very efficient one, too. They have about 1,500 feet of hose 
and other necessary appliances. Frank H. Dartt is foreman of the 
company." 

"There are four church edifices: Catholic, Presbyterian, Welsh 
Baptist and Swedish. The methodists hold service in the school 
house. The resident physicians are D. C. Waters and Charles S. 
Logan. Dr. Waters has been many years located here, and is 
highly esteemed by the citizens: Dr. Logan is a young physician 
who bids fair to win an enviable fame. The Arnot cornet band 
consists of sixteen members, with Thomas Heron as leader. Mr. 



*H. J. Landrus has resigned the position and the superintendent now is Mr. F. P. 
Lyon a very competent and practical man. 



61 

Heron is a fine musician, and the band is distinguished for its ex- 
cellent music. The saw mill is in charge of Nicholas Shultz. an 
old employe of the company. About 4,000,000 feet of lumber is 
annually manufactured. The feed mill is in charge of Charles 
Hahn, a very competent miller. Frank Keagle is tvii-eman in the 
blacksmith shop and Nathan Edwards in the carpenter shop. The 
employes in L. H. Drake's store are, Andrew Bowers, William 
Bowers, sen., William Bowers, 2nd, John Bowers and Charles 
Warner. The postmaster is H. J. Landrus. The station agent is 
H. A. Mitchell, who also is telegraph operator. Mr. Mitchell has 
been employed several years in that capacity and is an efficient 
employe." 

" The township officers are: School director, John Hill, president; 
Fred Wingrave, secretary; "John Dunsmore, treasurer; and mem- 
bers, Alexander Logan, Albert S. Johnson, Silas E. Shepard. 
Justices of the peace, Samuel Heron, Jonathan Hutchinson; con- 
stable, George Allen; supervisors, Robert Esgar, James Morehess; 
town clerk, William M. Dunsmore ; treasurer, Richard Grant ;. 
assessor, Frank H. Dartt; collector, Fred Wingrave." 

" You say, Harry, that this village, consisting of over four hun- 
dred dwellings and all of its shops, stores, schutes, coke yards, 
mines, mills, etc., belong to the Erie railroad company?" 

"Yes, Uncle Jonas, together with over twenty thousand acres 
of land. The railroad boys have about finished switching out the 
cars, and we shall soon move on towards Landrus." 

"Observe, Uncle Jonas, that pagoda or band stand up yonder on 
the hill, by the school house ? The Arnot band often meet there, 
and from their elevated position, every citizen of Arnot is enabled 
to sit in their own doors and listen to the fine music rendered by 
that admirable organization. The melody is softened, borne on 
the evening breeze and wafted up and along the hills and valleys 
and enjoyed by those wearied by the day's toil, and their spirits 
enlivened and quickened by the melody that floats in the air. When 
there is plenty of remunerating work, no happier community exists 
than this. For the distance of five or six miles now, Uncle Jonas, 
we will pass through the lands of the company. On either side 
you perceive that the timber has been cut and removed. A year 
ago last May a terrible fire raged through this region, consum- 
ing much valuable property and destroying a number of dwelhngs 
at Arnot." 

" The settlement with this mammoth saw mill is Landrus. This 
also belongs to the Erie railroad company. The saw mill if run to 
its full capacity would manufacture from eighteen to twenty mil- 
lion feet of lumber annually. This lumbering village is in charge 
of Robert F. Cummings, a gentleman who has had a large experi- 
ence in work of this kind. He was many years connected with the 
Fall Brook coal company's works at Fall Brook, and about three years 
since took charge of this place, commencing with the mill from its 
foundation and directing its construction. The company is for- 
tunate in securing his services." 

"The village is named Landrus in honor of H. J. Landrus, the 
superintendent at Arnot. A postoffice has been established here 
with R. F. Cummings as postmaster. The station agent here is 



62 

^William B. Jones, a young man of excellent morals and good busi- 
ness habits. He is also telegraph operator. We have passed the 
Summit, Uncle Jonas, and we will descend grade to Hoytville. 
There are one or two flag stations between here and there." 

" Hoytville, Uncle Jonas, is situated in the township of Morris 
on Babb's creek." 

"Oh, I remember Samson Babb well. He was one of the pio- 
neers in northern Pennsylvania. He came here about the year 
1800, so he told me. He occasionally came to Elmira. He and 
his sons had quite a fine farm here forty years ago or more." 

"We will talk over, Uncle Jonas, the early history of this place 
at a future time. I want you to see the largest tannery in the 
world, and we have but a little time to look it over and return to 
Blossburg on the train." 

"Very well, Harry, give me its modern history." 

"About four years ago, to be brief. Uncle Jonas, the Hoyt 
brothers, of New York, purchased the Babb property and some 
twenty thousand acres of hemlock lands surrounding it and com- 
menced the erection of this mammoth tannery. They must have 
expended a round million of dollars in lands and plant. This vast 
expenditure of money attracted persons in here from all parts of 
the country. Stores, shops, dwellings, mills and hotels, were soon 
erected by persons not connected with the company. The com- 
pany, however, in addition to their tannery, erected about fifty 
dwellings or more for their employes. Contemporaneous with the 
erection of the tannery, a company was formed, consisting princi- 
pally of those who were interested in the Tioga railroad company, 
known as the Arnot and Pine Creek railroad company, who con- 
structed a railroad from Arnot here so that by the time that the 
tannery was in readiness to commence the manufacture and ship- 
ment of leather, the railroad was finished. The tannery is known 
as the Brunswick tannery. The superintendent is Samuel S. Van 
Etten. The overseer in charge of inside work is Michael Lawler, 
gentlemen competent to fill their responsible positions. The book- 
keeper and paymaster is A. E. Spicer, assisted by Eugene Clark. 
Several clerks are employed in the store. The capacity of the 
tannery is about one thousand sides per day or three hundred and 
thirteen thousand annually. It would take. Uncle Jonas, a drove 
of five hundred of your best western steers per day to furnish 
the raw hides for this tannery, or one hundred and fifty-seven 
thousand annually. And here let me remark, Uncle Jonas, that 
the sixteen tanneries in Tioga county now in operation would re- 
quire one million four year old western steers to furnish the hides 
—your state of Illinois is not equal to the task, so the proprietors of 
these tanneries are obliged to purchase South American hides. 
This is indeed a remarkable village, Harry, surrounded by a wilder- 
ness in this valley of Babb's creek. Yes, Uncle Jonas, and here 
are all the marks of civilization. Yonder is a school house, down 
there is a church, and up yonder is another, here i? a fine depot, 
across the way is a bakery, there a hotel, yonder a saw mill, and 
across the track is a handle manufactory, while stores, milhnery 
shops, drug stores, dry goods stores, meat markets, and other 
.estabhshments g© to make up a bustling and thriving village of 



63 

1,000 inhabitants. It was commendable foresight which induced 
the Erie managers to purdhase this Tioga branch, which from here 
to Ehnira runs througli so many thriving villages and towns and 
penetrating these centers of industry — thus furnishing passengers 
and freight to their great trunk line and affording the tourist so 
many pleasing and romantic views. The station agent at Hoyt- 
viUe is John J . Gavigan, a young man who has from boyhood been 
a trusted employe of the company. Now we are off to Blossburg 
again." 

"I declare, Harry, this has been a very pleasant trip to-day. I 
have seen many things new to me and upon which I shall reflect 
in the future. The immense tanneries, the coke yards and ovens, 
the mines of semi-bituminous coal, the mountains and forests, the 
busy hum of industry, in the great mills here made a deep impres- 
sion upon me, which I shall not soon f#rget." 

" Here we are in Blossburg again. We will get a room and pre- 
pare for supper at once, for this mountain air has given me a sharp 
appetite. " 

' ' To-morrow, Harry, you say we are to go to Morris Eun and 
Fall Brook." 

"Yes, Uncle Jonas, that is the intention. I had intended to 
give you an idea of the township south of us — Union and Liberty 
— to-night, but as you seem fatigued I will put it off to a more 
convenient season. Perhaps, too, we may find time to take a trip 
to the Block house, and thence east into Union to Ogdemsburg, and 
thence to Blossburg before we leave this vicinity. If we do not, I 
wiU describe them to you." 



MOEEIS EUN AND FALL BEOOK. 



INTERESTING STATISTICS AND PLEASANT PERSONALITIES. 

"All aboard for Morris Eun." 

"That is meant for us, Uncle Jonas. Yonder is the train, in 
charge of that veteran conductor, William M. Butler, who for 
more than twenty years, in sunshine and in storm, has made his 
regular trips. The engineer is also a veteran of thirty years or 
more service in railroading. I allude to James Green, heretofore 
spoken of. Uncle Jonas, this is William M. Butler, the conductor." 
"Are you a son of William Butler, a former citizen of this place?" 

"Yes, sir." "I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Butler; your 
father and I met years ago at Elmira in a masonic lodge. There 
was another gentleman also who usually accompanied him, the 
Hon. Clarendon Eathbone." 

"Yes, Mr. Lawrence, they were both free masons and frequently 
went to Elmira to attend masonic meetings before any were insti- 
tuted in this county. You will have to excuse me, Mr. Lawrence, 
for the present. I will see you again." 

"This, Uncle Jonas, is the weigh office, where the coalis weighed 



64 

from Morris Run and Fall Brook. I mentioned this before. Henry 
Hollands and Frank Stratton are the weighmasters and shippers." 

" What cemetery is that, Harry," 

"That, Uncle Jonas, belongs to Arbon lodge of odd fellows. 
They are beautiful grounds. Here on the west side of the track is 
the union cemetery. Many of the old pioneers of Blossburg and 
surrounding country are laid to rest there. Adjoining that is the 
cemetery owned by the Catholics. It is well kept. Right opposite 
the Union cemetery on the banks of the Tioga river is where Judge 
Knapp erected a saw mill sixty years ago. No trace of it is seen 
now." 

"Look, Harry! We must be ascending a very steep grade. Only 
a few minutes ago we were on a level or nearly with the river, but 
now we are at least eighty feet above it. " 

"The grade is nearly 100 feet to the mile, Uncle Jonas. Bloss- 
burg, you recollect I told you, was 1,348 above tide, and the mines 
at Morris Run are 1,678, a little over three miles distant, making 
the elevation of the mines at Morris Run 330 higher than Bloss- 
.burg. 

' • Here we are at Morris Run. Now, Uncle Jonas, suppose we 
walk up to the Morris Run hotel, kept by Matthew Waddel, and 
where we can look over the village and rest ourselves. I can from 
this porch point out the various places of interest, and at the same 
time give you a brief history of this interesting and busy mining 
village. This creek that we are crossing over is Morris Run. It is 
named in honor of the late Hon. Samuel W. Morris, of Wellsboro, 
who was prominently connected with the construction of the Corn- 
ing and Blossburg railroad, nearly fifty years ago. I was ac- 
quainted with Judge Morris, Harry, He represented this district 
in congress in the years 1836-7." 

"Oh, yes, Harry, I have met him. But we wiU speak of him 
again. Go on with your history." 

" Well to continue, over thirty years ago a company named the 
Tioga improvement company opened up the mines here and con- 
structed a railroad from Blossburg here. The mining superintend- 
ent in charge was John Young, who resided in that log house you 
see here to the left of us. The Tioga improvement company oper- 
ated the mines until the year 1862, and then leased them to the 
salt company of Onondaga, who soon made preparations to carry 
on mining on a more extensive scale. They erected a saw -mill, 
store, and a number of dwellings, built new schutes and made 
many improvements. In 1861 the salt company sold out their 
lease to the Morris Run coal company, who continued to enlarge 
the capital of the mining operations. About nine years ago the 
Morris Run coal company surrendered its charter and the Morris 
Run Coal and Mining company was incorporated, which has oper- 
ated the mines up to the present, a controlling interest being held 
by the trustees of the estate of the late Hon. John Magee. Mr. 
Waddell, this is Uncle Jonas Lawrence, who has come to make 
this village a visit." 

" Glad to meet you, gentlemen, walk in." 

"No, thank you, Mr. Waddell, we will sit here a few minutes 
on the porch and take a look at the town. Mr. WaddeU, Uncle 



65 

Jonas, is one of the pioneer miners in this village. He has been a 
resident here for many years, is a Scotchman by birth. He has 
been prominently connected with the establishment of an Odd 
Fellows' lodge in this place, and also at Blossburg — holding all the 
responsible positions in the lodge and discharging the duties with 
marked ability and fidelity. That large store across the track, 
Uncle Jonas, belongs to the company and is in charge of Major T. 
B. Anderson, formerly of Syracuse, N. Y. The major came here 
in the year 1SG8 and took cliarge of the mercantile business for the 
salt' company previously referred to, and when it sold out to the 
Morris iiun coal company he was retained by the incoming com- 
pany, and has continued to occupy most faithfully and honestly 
that position up to the present, with the prospect of remaining 
many years to come. No man in northern Pennsylvania has done 
more tiian the major to put into practice the principles of friend- 
ship, love and truth. He is a prominent Odd FeUow and Free 
Mason. His heart is overflowing witli charity, benevolence and 
good \y[\\ towards his neighbors, the sick and the afflicted. He is 
truly a noble grand. He is assisted in the store by Albert C. Frost, 
H. A. Monroe, William Glenright, Edward Kilbourn, William 
Hayes, clerks, and Miss Aggie Gilmour, book-keeper. You observe 
that octagon roofed building with a store vault attached to the 
rear, over yonder on the side hill? " 

"Yes." 

"That, Uncle Jonas, is the office of the Morris Run Coal and 
Mining company. The officers of the company are General George 
J. Magee, president; Daniel Beach, treasurer; W. S. Nearing, gen- 
eral superintendent ; Lewis Nearing, assistant superintendent. 
The occupants of the office are P. F. O'Donnell, paymaster; J. 
Norman Anderson, book-keeper, and Thomas V. Keefe, accountant 
and telegrai)h operator. Mr. O'Donnell is a gentleman who has 
for the past twenty years been connected with the office and dur- 
ing that time has received and paid out millions of dollars, disburs- 
ing this large sum with honesty and fidelity. He has taken no 
forced trips to Canada. His accounts have always been accurate 
to a cent. He is a man of pleasing address, courteous and gentle- 
manly. His associate, J. Norman Anderson, is a son of Major T. 
B. Andei'son, and has for many years occupied the responsible 
position of book-keeper and assistant paymaster. He inherits the 
many good traits of his father and isdistinguishedfor his urbanity,, 
his prominence in the order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor 
and for the faithful performance of the work assigned him. 
Thomas V. Keefe is is also a gentleman of merit, who has for 
many years faithfully and industriously attended to the duties de- 
volved upon him. He is a fine musician and leader of the Morris 
Run cornet band. The general superintendent, William S. Near- 
ing, has had charge of the work for the past twenty-one years and 
is one of the most skilled civil and mining engineers in the state of 
Pennsylvania. He has introduced into the workings of the mines 
the most approved appliances and the best system of mining and 
ventdation in the state. This is conceded by all who have exam- 
ined the mines and are competent to judge. His son, Lewis Near- 
ing, is a young man of rare accomphshments as an engineer, and 



Q6 

assists him in the management of the mines, and for nearly two 
years has had a personal supervision over them. Wilham K. Gil- 
mour is mining foreman. He is one of the oldest residents of 
Morris Run, having been employed here in various capacities for 
the past thirty years or more. Mr. Gilmour is a distinguished Odd 
Fellow, a good miner and every way competent to discharge the work 
assigned him. At the Jones' mines, Michael Driscoll is foreman. 
He has been employed for many years by the company, and is a 
faithful and competent man. The weigh master at the Jones' 
mines is Samuel Woodhouse, a gentleman who was for many 
years a justice of the peace, and now metes out justice by giving 
fair and just weight between the miner and the company. The 
dispatcher or boss mule driver is Thomas Tuckey. That position, 
Uncle Jonas, is a very responsible one. He dispatches the differ- 
ent drivers, as a division dispatcher on one of the trunk railroads 
do trains. You will observe one characteristic, Uncle Jonas, about 
these men, that most of them have long been employed by the 
company. That I take is a compliment to the men and shows the 
sagacity of the company in continuing the old hands. At the new 
mine, Camplbell Haddow is foreman and the weigh-master is Wil- 
liam Tipton, and the boss mule driver or dispatcher, Edward Kel- 
ley, schute boss, Thomas E. Emms, all trusted men in their voca- 
tions. At the east mine, William R. Gilmour, heretofore alluded 
to, exercises general supervision. The weigh-master is 0. T. Smith. 
The blacksmiths at the Jones mines are Michael Brown, James 
Brown and Michael Whalen. At the new mine the blacksmiths 
.are James Woodhouse and Samuel Woodhouse, jr. At the east 
mine the blacksmiths are John Stephenson and Thomas McMahon. 
Besides doing general blacksmithing work incident to the mining 
operations, one of the specialties is the sharpening and pointing of 
drills and miners' picks. The picks used by the miners are pointed 
with steel and drawn out to a point as small as a fork tine. When 
the pick becomes blunt it must be re-pointed. This is done by the 
blacksmith in a common blacksmith forge with a fire made from 
raw coal as it comes from the mines. If there was any sulphur in 
the coal this could not be done, as the sulphur would make the 
steel brittle and the pick point would break upon its first trial in 
the mines. This shows the superiority of the semi-bituminous 
coal of the Blossburg region, and this is the reason why it is sought 
after so extensively for smithing purposes. You notice steam 
issuing from that building down yonder on the creek?" 

"Yes, I see it plainly." 

" That is the saw mill of the company. The outside foreman of 
the lumber department is Frank Church, who has a supervision 

• over all outside work. Mr. Church has been employed for many 
years and is a faithful and competent man. This community, you 
i perceive. Uncle Jonas, has not neglected their educational or 
'.religious duties, for there are two school houses and^ four church 

• edifices. The churches have been erected by ^^■' Primitive Meth- 
'Odists, the ^ elsh Congregationalists, Welsh i^:.-:r:.:jt and Catholic. 
The Rev. Thomas K. Beecher about five years ago came here from 
Elmira and preached in that church to a large and interested con- 
gregation. Tbr vi,'>chers at present in the school house yonder to 



67 

the south, in what is termed the Tioga district, are A. M. Johnson 
and wife. The teachers in the new school house are Mr. Hitchcock 
and Miss Cass. Besides the schools and churches there is one of 
the strongest and most influential lodges of Odd Fellows in this 
section, and a lodge of the Knights of Pythias and a Welsh secret 
benevolent society called the Ivorites, besides quite a membership 
of Free Masons and Knights of Honor. There is a splendidly 
equipped and uniformed brass band here of twenty-two pieces 
under the leadership of Thomas V. Keefe. The people here are 
very fond of music, and some excellent and meritorious glee clubs 
have been formed here, as well as choirs and instrumental bands. 
There is also a base ball club here of considerable merit composed 
of the young men who work in the mines. This building oi:>po- 
site of us is a drug store owned and conducted by the resident phy- 
sicians, William and H. E. Caldwell. Dr. William Caldwell is an 
old resident here, having located here about twenty years ago. 
His nephew, Dr. H. E. Caldwell, has resided here for about five 
years. That building down by the railroad track is used as a tin 
shop. WiUiam Halliday has charge of that and is a young man 
well skilled in his trade. The building farther down the track is 
the postoffice, ticket office and market. The market is owned and 
conducted by Ross & WiUiams, of Mansfield, Pa." 

"The air compressor, one of the most useful inventions of the 
age, is located where you see that steam and smoke issuing from 
the pipe and stack between those schutes. James Middaugh is 
master of machinery. The air compressor is used in hauhug coal 
by means of an endless rope from the mines, and also for working 
"iron men" or coal diggers by machinery. I will give you a full 
description of it at some future time. The engineers in charge are 
J. E. King in the day time, and E. N. King in the night time. 
The village of Morris Run contains about two thousand inhabitants, 
all directly or indirectly employed by the company. All the build- 
ings are owned by the company. There is mined annually about 
three hundred and fifty thousand tons of semi-bituminous coal, 
which finds a market as far west as Colorado and east into Boston 
and the New England states. The vein of coal is about four feet 
thick, and lies nearly horizontal, between a top of slate and sand 
rock and a bed of hard, fine clay. The mines are laid out in 
squares, like any well-planned city. The streets are narrow and 
are gangways. In mining, every alternate square is left at first, 
until the ground has all been gone over. Then the mining is com- 
menced at the rear end or side, and the pillars mined out towards 
the opening or mouth of the drift or mine. In going over the ter- 
ritory first, when the coal is mined out, props are set upright to 
prevent the chambers from being fiUed or broken down. The coal 
mines in northern Pennsylvania are all mined upon the same 
principle, and when we get to Fall Brook, Uncle Jonas, perhaps 
we will go into the mines and you can see how the mining is per- 
formed. It is a mile and a half from here. Uncle Jonas, over to 
Fall Brook. Shall we get a conveyance to take us over, or shall 
we walk ?" 

" I would prefer to walk, Harry. I can then go along carefully 
and examine the rocks and coal strata and many things that I 



68 

would lose sight of were we to ride. Besides, the air of the eleva- 
tion (about 1700 feet above tide), is rather too chilly at this time of 
the year for a.n old man hke me to ride." 

After spending a few minutes with Mr. Waddell, conversing on 
general topics, they leave for Fall Brook. 

" There are one or two things, Uncle Jonas, that I neglected to 
point out to you, the Odd Fellows' Hall, that large buildmg which 
you see down yonder on that high ground, and the public hall in 
the valley below. That little locomotive you see over there is used 
in hauling the coal from the mouth of this drift here by the 
schutes. It perforj'us the work of many mules. We will take it 
slowly until we get past that airshaffc where you see the smoke 
coming out. The road there is nearly level for some distance. 
There is a large furnace at the bottom of that shaft, where a very 
hot fire is constantly kept burning for the purpose of heating or 
rarefying the air in the mines. It is the surest way of causmg a 
current of air to pass through the mines. It is as certain as the 
law of gravitation, and based upon a principle that heated air forms 
a vacuum, and cooler air rushes forth to equalize the temperature. 
The bottom of that shaft where the furnace is, is connected with 
all the various chambers or working places in the mines, and by 
heating the air here at the mouth of the mine, all impurities and 
bad air are drawn to this point and escape into the open air by 
means of that shaft or flue. We have now reached the summit, 
about tvs^o thousand feet above tide. Now, Uncle Jonas, turn 
rbund and look to the south and westward." 

"Oh ! Harry, these mountain landscapes are grand ! To those 
who are penned up in the walls of a city what a relief it would be 
for them to stand here, breathe this pure mountain air and feast 
their eyes upon this landscape of mountain and valley scenery." 

' ' This, Harry, is about the right altitude. The geaks of the 
"White mountains in the east and the Rocky mountains in the west 
are too high for comfort and too rare for health. This is a happy 
medium. To the south and west here we can trace the outline of 
the mountain ranges as they extend towards the valley of the west 
branch of the Susquehanna, or northward to the valley of the 
Chemung. To the eastward we can see the ranges lessen in 
altitude until we approach the valley of the Wyoming, the sum- 
mits and sides covered with a forest rich in all the colors which 
the artist nature has painted in their foliage. The dark green 
of the hemlock, the variegated colors of the maple, the beech, 
the oak, chestnut and birch as they are dressed in their autumnal 
suits, the outlines of farms, farm houses, fields with their herds of 
sheep and cattle, present a picture unsurpassed in loveliness and 
grandeur. It brings one who feasts upon its splendor nearer to 
that great Architect who created all these things for the pleasure 
and enjoyment of the creatures of His handiwork. Then, again, 
as winter comes on, to see this region wrapped in a mantle so white 
and spotless, the thousand little rivulets locked in the embrace of 
the icy king, with icicles and pendants sparkling, refusing to melt 
beneath the feeble rays of the sun; and then again in spring time, 
when the sun has mounted high in the heavens, the thousand rills 
are released from their icy fetters and go dancing and singing on 



69 

to the great ocean; when wild flowers are shedding their balmy 
odor broadcast upon the air, and the forests put on their brightest 
spring suits, the myriads of birds warbling their sweetest and mott 
cheerful notes calls forth from man his adoration of that benefi- 
cent Creator, and inspires him with grand and noble thoughts and 
a love for the beautiful in nature. It makes his pulse beat warmer 
and quicker. It softens his heart. It aUays animosities and leads 
him to take a broader and more charitable view of mankind, and a 
greater reverence for God, and a higher regard for His goodness 
and love for all." 

"Here we are at the Fall Brook hotel, kept by John F. Dwyre, 
one of the best landlords in northern Pennsylvania. Mr. Dwyre, 
this is Uncle Jonas Lawrence. We have come to take dinner and 
spend the afternoon with you." 

" Walk in, gentlemen; I am pleased to meet you." 

"I declare, Harry, I did not expect to find so fine a hotel up here 
in the coal regions." 

' ' Well, Uncle Jonas, while we are resting I wiU give you a brief 
history of the hotel. It was erected during the year 18G4, twenty- 
one years ago, and occupied by Warren Goff , of Howard, Steuben 
county, in the spring of 1865. It is a durable structure, a strong 
and lasting frame. Wages and material were high at the time of 
its erection, and the cost of the hotel with furniture was about 
-$13,000. It was built by order of the late Hon. John Magee, upon 
a plan made by the late Humphries Brewer, manager for the Fall 
Brook coal company. The mechanic who had charge of the work 
was David Cooper, of Steuben county, N. Y. It was first opened 
by Warren Golf, as I have stated, and kept by him for about one 
year, who retired, and Libbius PhiUips, of Addison, N. Y., kept it 
for five years or more, and was succeeded by C. B. Whitehead, 
John Van Order and others, and by the present accommodating 
host. Since its erection, among the many distinguished gentlemen 
who have been guests here I recall the names of the Hon. Horatio 
Seymour, Hon. Daniel E. Howell, Hon. Mr. Pillsbury, of Maine, 
Hon. E. K. Apgar, Hon. Richard Haldeman, Hon. John Arnot, 
Hon. C. L. Ward, Hon. B. F. Bruce, Hon. John Magee, Hon. Reu- 
ben E. Fenton, Col. John F. Means, Hon. Henry Sherwood, Hon. 
Stephen F. Wilson, Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara, of'Scranton, Bishop 
Stevens, of Philadelphia, Bishop De Wolfe, of Reading, Pa., Hon, 
Stephen Pierce, Hon. Theodore Wright, Hon. Jerome "B. Niles, and 
many other distinguished citizens of the country, who came here 
for business or pleasure. The hotel has an elevation of about 1,800 
feet above the tide, and it is one of the pleasant retreats in summer 
for those seeking rest and quiet and pure air. Dinner is ready, 
Uncle Jonas." 

They go to dinner, and after dinner they go up to "Magee's 
room," from which they command a view of the borough of FaU 
Brook, 

" Now, Uncle Jonas, take that easy chair by the cheerful fire in 
the grate and I will give you a brief history of Fall Brook. When 
I think of the founding of FaU Brook, Uncle Jonas, by the Magees, 
I camiot help to remark how small things sometimes take men out 
of the channel which they had marked out to sail in, and how a 



70 

trifling circumstance may change their whole course of action. 
To be more definite, Uncle Jonas, the Hon. John Magee was a 
banker at Bath, N. Y., and was largely interested in the Conhocton 
Valley raih'oad, now a branch of the Erie. In his business rela- 
tions with the bank of Corning, N. Y., its officers became indebted 
to Mr. Magee. The officers of the Corning bank held leases of the 
mines at Blossburg, and Mr. Magee, in order to secure his claim 
against the bank and its officers, was obliged to seize upon their 
lease of the mines, also upon the fifteen miles of raih'oad from 
Corning to the state line at Lawrenceville. I was at that time 
directly interested in the prosperity of the Corning bank, whose 
officers were Hiram W. Botswick, William and Laurin Mallory, 
and was f amihar with the transaction. After Mr. Magee had se- 
cured the lease and the dilapidated fifteen miles of railroad, there 
was an informal meeting of the stockholders of the bank at Corn- 
ing, at which Mr. Magee, the Hon. John McBurney, Jonathan 
Bro'\^^2, Benjamin Patterson, John L. Sexton, Robert Patterson, 
Nathan Reynolds, David H. Bonham, Wilham Wambaugh, Fi-ed- 
erick K. Holcott and Eli Lyon were among the persons present. 
Mr. Magee desired that the men should purchase the road and 
lease of the mines from him, offering to make liberal deductions 
from his claims. The amount of Mr. Magee's claim was about 
$25,000, and he offered to take the notes of the above named gen- 
tlemen for $18,000, 'for,' said Mr. Magee, 'I have an elephant on 
my hands and I want to get rid of him.' Th. parties did not see 
fit to accept of Mr. Magee's proposition, and the meeting disbanded. 
Before, Uncle Jonas, that Mr. Magee left Corning I had a conver- 
sation with him, told him I was acquainted with the Blossburg 
region, the coal, the lumber along on the line, and that I believed 
it would pay him to send Duncan S. Magee, his son, up to Bloss- 
burg, continue the mining of the coal, and if needs be to construct 
a new road up the Tioga valley— that it was rich in coal and tim- 
ber. The old gentleman and I parted, Mr. Magee still claiming 
that he had all the business he could attend to without going into 
the mining and shipping of coal. Mr. Magee, as the sequel proves, 
reconsidered, sent his son Duncan S. Magee to Blossburg and com- 
menced mining coal under the lease. This business he carried on 
for two or three years, and then organized a corps of explorers, 
consisting of Humphries Brewer and G. A. Beckus, civil engineers 
and geologists, Thomas Farrar, John James, William Griffiths, 
Thomas Morgan, George Cook, John Evans and Stephen Bowen, 
and explored this region, and finally prevailed upon his father to 
purchase about 6,000 acres surrounding this place. When it was 
once demonstrated that there were fine fields of coal here, the old 
gentleman, the Flon. John Magee, took hold of the matter with 
great energy. The explorations commenced in 1856.^ The Fall 
Brook company was incorporated in April, 1859, consisting of John 
Magee, Duncan S. Magee and James PI. Gulick. The railroad 
was constructed from Blossburg here in the summer and fall of 
1859. The first officers of the company were the Hon. John Magee, 
president; John Lang, treasurer; D. S. Magee, superintendent; 
H. Brewer, civil engineer. The first shipment of coal from here 
was in the month of December, 1859. In the spring of 1860 the 



71 

coal trade opened quite briskly. The company secured valuable- 
franchises at Watkins, N. Y., at the head of Seneca Lake, and 
opened up an office there, erected schutes, trestles and shipping 
docks. An office was also opened at Corning, with Andrew Beers 
agent. At Fall Brook a saw mill was erected on the falls, and the 
work of cutting down the forest, erecting dwellings, stores and 
shops was prosecuted with great vigor. A supply store was opened 
here upon the site of this hotel, and James Heron installed as 
storekeeper, with Alfred T. James and Thomas J. Hall clerks. 
Old number one drift. Uncle Jonas, passed a few feet north of 
where you sit, and the schutes and weigh offices were where that 
saw mill now stands. The coal soon gained a good reputation, and 
for years all that could be mined was readily sold at a fair price. 
The httle store which stood upon the site of this hotel was found 
to be inadequate in size, and a larger one was erected up yonder a 
few rods north of here. In about four years a wing was attached. 
Mr. Heron was the store agent, paymaster, etc., for several years, 
when the business of the office demanded his whole time and atten- 
tion, besides the assistance of two clerks, 0. Pattison and C. L. 
Pattison, brothers, which had to be increased from time to time. 
The store was placed in charge of Frank Lewis, with several clerks 
to assist him. Mr. Lewis was transferred to Bath, and Charles E. 
Halsey, of Hammondsport, installed in his stead, who occupied 
that very responsible position for more than ten years. Among 
the old clerks that I recall, who served in the office and the store, 
were Charles Ford, Daniel Wheeler, Frederic Barrows, John L. 
Sexton, jr., Jame^ Mills, John Forrest, jr., William Forrest, A. J. 
Pollock, 'T. J. Hall, William E. Butts, Sam Sexton, J. W. Person- 
eus, I. S. Marshall, Roland Hall and R. F. Cummings. The com- 
pany opened up the mines in several places. For many years 
Alexander Pollock was foreman of drifts numbers one and two. 
William Griffiths foreman of drifts number three, number two A 
and number two B. The &-st weighmaster and shipper of coal 
was John Morse, succeeded by Peter Cameron, jr. , and he by John L. 
Sexton, jr., and William D. Lynahan. Thomas Reese was for many 
years weighmaster at drifts numbers one, two and three. Duncan 
S. Magee continued superintendent for several years, giving the 
work his personal attention, becoming acquainted with all the em- 
ployees and with the very details of the business. As the work 
developed and the coal trade increased he had his headquarters at 
Watkins, and Humphries Brewer was manager until his death, 
December 25, 1867. Mr. Brewer was a geologist and civil engi- 
neer and was eminent in his profession. Contemporaneous with 
the building up of the town came the erection of school houses and 
churches and the establishment of lodges and friendly societies. 
There are two schools in the boro, sufficient to accommodate 300 
scholars. After the death of Mr. Brewer, in 18G7, James Heron, 
the cashier, was promoted to that position, and C. L. Pattison ta 
that of cashier. In the year 1872 Mr. Heron died and was suc- 
ceeded by D, W. Knight, who had previously taken the place in 
the office held by C. L. Pattison. John Hinman was for many 
years a valued assistant in the office, but was transferred in the 
year 1871 to the company's new mines at Antrim, where for sev- 



72 

eral years he held the responsible position of paymaster at that 
place, and resigned to enter into business in Raleigh, North Caro- 
lina. John Forrest, jr., was for many years in the office, and was 
transferred to Clermont, McKean county, to take charge of tlie 
office at that place. In the year 1804, Fall Brook was incorporated 
as a borough — taken from the township of Ward. L. C. fehepard 
was the first burgess, and held the position for ten successive years, 
when he refused to longer accept the position, and John L. Sexton, 
jr., was elected, but soon after resigned to accept a position in the 
office of the secretary of internal atfairs at Harrisburg, Pa. The 
office has since been filled by James Pollock, R. F. Cummings and 
others. Mr. Shepard is the present burgess. He has been for 
many years a resident of Fall Brook. The Presbyterian church 
was organized in the year 1860, upon the petition of Alexander 
Pollock, James Heron, Alexander Pollock, jr., James Pollock, 
Peter Cameron, jr., Robert Logan, John Dunsmore, George Sned- 
den, William Watchman, E. J. Evans, David Pryde. The petition 
was granted and the church organized with twenty-two members, 
and the Rev. Geo. Blair secured as its first minister. Its first 
officers were the Hon. John Magee, Duncan S. Magee, Alexander 
Pollock, sr., trustees; H. Brewer, treasurer; James Heron, secre- 
tary; Alexander Pollock, sr., Robert Logan, David Pryde, Samuel 
Heron, WiUiam Watchman and Reese Thomas committee of man- 
agement. 

" Episcopal services were held in 18G4 by the Rev. E. D. Love- 
ridge, of Hammondsport. In 1^66 Bishop Lee, of Delaware, visited 
Fall Brook and confirmed Mary Frazee and Mary Brewer. C. E. 
Halsey and John Hinman about that time organized a Sunday 
school, which grew into a very large and numerously attended 
school. July 30, 1867, application was made to the court of com- 
mon pleas of Tioga county by Charles E. Halsey, John Hinman, 
Lewis Clark, John B. Christie, J. W. Personeus, John L. Sexton, 
jr., John Alderson and Thomas Gaffney to be incorporated under 
the title of the Rector, church warden and vestrymen of St. 
Thomas church. Fall Brook, which application was granted De- 
cember 5th, 1867, and ordered on file in the prothonotary's office. 
Its first officers were Charles E. Halsey and John Hinman, war- 
dens ; John L. Sexton, jr., Lewis Clark, John B. Christie, M. D., 
Joel W. Personeus and John Alderson, vestrymen." 

" The corner stone of the Catholic church was laid with appro- 
priate ceremonies August 31, 1873, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara, 
of Scranton, Pa., assisted by the Revs. Gerald McMurray, John A. 
Wynne and John McDermott. It was first used for religious ser- 
vices April 26, 1874, the Rev. Father Garvey, of Wilhamsport, 
assisted by the pastors, the Rev John A. Wynne and John McDer- 
mott, performing the opening ceremonies." 

"One school house was erected in the year 1860, and it proving 
insufficient another was erected in 1864-65 and in the summer of 
1873 both were enlarged and refitted. As the population increased 
it was found advisable to secure the services of a competent phy- 
sician to reside in the town. Dr. Davidson was the first regular 
resident physician and he was soon succeeded by Dr. Henry Kil- 
bourn, and he by Drs. John B. Christie and Robert Christie, and 



the two latter by Dr. A. R. Barton, who remained several years." 
"There are many mcidents, Uncle Jonas, which I wonld be glad 
to relate to you concerning the early development of Fall Brook, 
which our limited visit will not permit. You can see that notwith- 
standing this was a new town erected in the wilderness, it was not 
wanting in those requisites necessary to civilized societies. They 
instituted schools, churches, lodges, fri ^ndly societies and library 
associations. The Fall Brook lodge, Kd. 765, I. O. 0: F., was in- 
stituted June 15th, 1S73,— the Fall Brook Friendly Society May 
15th, 1873. The population consisted of Americans, English, Irish, 
Scotch, Welsh, Swedes and Germans. It was very seldom that 
the supposed natural national prejudices existing between these 
people culminated in any breach of the peace or disorderly conduct. 
Instead of any manifestation of that kind showing itself the other and 
more fraternal feeling existed among the citizens of all nation- 
alities. They became acquainted with each other, they mingled in 
churches and lodges, at their work in the mines, in the mills, in 
the store, and in the forest, and learned to respect each other, and 
their rights and privileges. They assisted each other in sickness 
and in death. No person ever became a town or county charge. 
Although, Uncle Jonas, the history of Fall Brook only dates back 
about thirty years from its first exploration, still it has not been 
slow in interesting events. We wiU walk around after a little and 
make the acquaintance of A. J. Owen, the store manager, a gentleman 
who has for many years been in the employ of the company, hav- 
ing been their agent at Corning for a number of years, and about 
fourteen years ago he came here. We will find Mr. Owen in the 
office. In the office we will find A. N Williams, book-keeper, and 
D. S. KruU, order clerk. Mr. Williams is a gentleman who for the 
past twenty years has been in the employ of the company, and is 
a very courteous and pleasant official. Mr. Krull has recently 
been employed, but comes well recommended, and no doubt will 
meet the expectations of his friends. In the store we will find 
Fred G. Ehiott, son of the Hon. N A. Elliott, of Mansfield, and 
the only brother of the Hon. Mortimer F. Ehiott, the distinguished 
lawyer of Wellsboro. Fred G. Elliott is a gentleman with whom 
it is a pleasure to meet, gentlemanly, courteous and social. His 
assistants m the store are M. S. Murray, Frank Kennedy and D. 
L. Laraby, gentlemen well suited to the Work at hand, competent 
and trusty. We must go up to the mines and call on Fred H. 
Wells and his assistant, Robert Russell. Messrs. Wells and Rus- 
sell are practical miners. Mr. Wells is also a civil engineer, and 
has been employed in various capacities by the company for the 
past twenty-five years or more. Mr. Russell has not served quite 
so long, but about twenty years. They are competent men. We 
also want to make the acquaintance of John Shepard, the boss 
mule driver, and see with what dexterity he dispatches the drivers 
to their various places in the mines. Mr. Shepard has been many 
years employed by the company And while we are in tliat locahty 
we must caU on the venerable Anson Wells, the blacksmith who 
for a quarter of a century or more has sharpened and pointed the 
picks and drills for the mines. There we will also find another old 
veteran, John McCann, who has been employed for the past quarter 



74 

of a century by the Fall Brook company. We will meet Sanf ord 
Dewey, another old and faithful employe. We must also call on 
D. S. Dewey, weighmaster, and see with what accuracy and dis- 
patch he weighs the coal as it comes from the mines. We must 
also call on John G. Jones, the telegraph operator and shipper. He 
has served the company for several years and holds a very respon- 
sible position. We must not omit. Uncle Jonas, to call at the 
school and see with what care Miss Anna Gilmore and Miss 
Clements instruct the rising generation. We will on our return 
call on J. W. Taylor, outside foreman, having in charge the lum- 
ber department. His position is a very responsible one, and calls 
into action a great degree of knowledge and experience. In the 
same office we will find L. C. Shepard, the worthy chief burgess,. 
who for the past quarter of a century has been employed by the 
company in various responsible capacities. We then want to cross 
over into the mule barns and interview John Junk and James 
Chambers, who have charge of a large number of mules and horses, 
and perform other labors. They are both worthy citizens and have 
long been residents of Fall Brook. We then should go and call on 
Wiiham F. O'Donnell, an old and valuable employe of the com- 
pany, who now has charge of the market. In that same building 
we wiU find the town hall, and the elegaht lodge rooms of the Odd 
Fellows and the Knights of Honor. Passing up the track we must 
look into the saw mill of the company, now in charge of Hugh 
Crawford, and see what admirable work he does in sawing lumber 
for the mines and for market. We will then pass along by the 
store and office to the northward. In the fallow as it is termed. 
W^e will pass the Presbyterian church and the shipping yards of A. 
VanSickels & Co., Edward Sullivan, contractor. The lumber and 
bark comes from the estate of the late Hon. C. L. Ward and hauled 
there for shipment. About 3,000,000 feet of hemlock lumber and 
1,000,000 of hard wood lumber and 3,000 tons of bark are annually 
shipped there and go over the Fall Brook railroad. Beyond the 
shipping yard we ^vill find the Fallow school house, capable of 
seating comfortably 150 scholars, divided into two rooms, both on 
the ground floor, and so arranged by sliding doors that it can be 
used as one room. There we will find Miss Kate Purcell laboring 
to instruct the children. And should we have time we will visit 
the cemetery on the hillside, where we would find the graves of 
Humphries Brewer, Gustavus A. Beckus, James Heron and many 
others who once held prominent positions with the company or 
were pioneers in the work. Should we still have time at our dis- 
posal we might go out to Holmesville, a lumbering town, just over 
the fine of the borougli, and in doing so pass the shaft recently put 
down by the Fall Brook coal company and from which they are 
hoisting coal to the surface. At the shaft we would find several 
old employes, Nelson A. Wells, who has charge of the engine in 
the daytime, and 0. L. Fields, who has charge of it at night. In 
the blacksmith shop we would find Mahchi Kane, who for twenty 
years has continuously been employed by the company. At 
Holmesville we would find a lumbering village of twenty buildings, 
a saw mill owned by Edward Holmes, a good business man and a 
gentleman." 



76 

" Eetuming we could call on G. W. Ingham, the homeopathic 
physician, and Dr. D. W. Brown, the regular or allopathic, both 
genial and companionable gentlemen and proficient in their pro- 
fession. And then, Uncle Jonas, we could sit here in the evening 
by this genial fire and talk over the history and development of 
this mining town away up here in the mountains of Northern 
Pennsylvania, and show how it was indirectly the cause of stimu- 
lating the opening up of other mines in this county, the building 
of railroads and establishments of tanneries, glass manufactories 
and the increase and population of the county — to speak of its 
influence in developing the agricultural interest of the surrounding 
country and its future." 

'*I am surprised, Harry, at the inteUigence and public spirit of 
these mining communities. I had been led to beheve that they 
were pretty generally uncivilized districts. There, Uncle Jonas^ 
you are mistaken. The company employ the very best business 
talent in the country. When they get a good man he is retained 
for years. The father of this landlord, Patrick Dwyre, has been 
over thirty consecutive years in the employ of the company, and 
there are many instances I could cite you where men have been 
employed continuously for ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five 
years, proving faithful to their trust. By this course the men be- 
come interested in the work, interested in schools, churches, lodges 
and whatever conduces to the best interest of the community. A 
large number of newspapers are taken and read by these people. 
You can go to the postoffice here and find London, Glasgow, Dub- 
lin, Glamorganshire, Berlin, Stockholm, as well as New York, 
Elmira, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and local county papers. There 
is less litigation in the mining districts of Tioga county than in any 
other section. There is no petty thieving, no pilfering and plun- 
dering going on here. They may be rather uncultivated in their 
manners, bat they possess the true elements of poUteness and 
civihty. Let us go out among them. 



TIOGA COUNTY CONTINUED. 



PIONEER DAYS AND MODERN TIMES COMPARED. 

"How do you feel this morning, Uncle Jonas ?" "Very well, 
Harry, in fact I am gaining strength every day." "After break- 
fast, Uncle Jonas, we will take a walk down "to the falls and see 
the waters dashing and tumbling over the rocks on its way to the 
Tioga river, thence to the Chesapeake bay. The descent of Fall 
Brook is about eighty feet in a few rods as it goes over the falls, 
forming one of the most attractive views in the country. No 
doubt the red man frequently sat and gazed upon the scene with 
delight and prized it as one of his most valuable and cherished 
resorts." 

" The Fall Brook coal company formerly utihzed the water by 
erecting a saw miU upon the rocks, which manufactured the first 
lumber used here in the erection of dwellings, stores schutes and 



76 

other necessary buildings. They, however, removed the mill and 
erected a large one driven by steam." 

Uncle Jonas and Harry visit the falls and then take the cars for 
Blossburg. On their way down, they observe the well planned 
device for ascending and descending the mountains by means of 
back switches, the railroad having for the first mile and a half the 
form of the letter Z. iVfter reaching CNeiFs switch the course of 
the railroad is upon a regular grade of about eighty feet to the 
mile, down the ravine or narrow valley of Fall Brook to its inter- 
section with the upper waters of the Tioga river. In their descent 
they observe the openings in the mountain on the west, made by 
the Morris Run coal and mining company which extends through 
the mountain to Morris Eun. As they arrive at the Tioga river, 
they soon come to Somerville, a little hamlet, where for years the 
coal shipped to market by the Fall Brook coal company was weigh- 
ed and properly consigned. William D. Lynaham, now of Corning, 
N. Y., for many years resided there and manipulated the weights. 
A few rods below Somerville, the river and the railroad escape 
through a narrow pass in the mountains, and from that point the 
valley widens and grows broader and more fertile until you reach 
the state line at Lawrenceville, some thirty miles to the northward. 
From Somerville to Corning one engine will haul one hundred and 
twenty-five coal cars, it being down grade most of the way. In a 
few minutes. Uncle Jonas and Harry reach Blossburg and are 
kindly received at the Seymour house. They secure a carriage 
from the livery with Sammy Sage as driver, and proceed down the 
valley of the Tioga upon the old Williamson road. 

" We are now approaching. Uncle Jonas, the Township line be- 
tween the borough of Blossburg and the township of Covington. 
Does this look natural to you ?" 

"No, Harry, I think the highway has been changed some in its 
course since I came this way many years ago. We must be now, 
Harry, upon the Captain David Clemmons estate." 

"Yes, we are, Uncle Jonas" — "I recollect Captain David Clem- 
mons well, Harry. He was a native of Hampshire county, Massa- 
chusetts, and had been a resident of Essex and Clinton counties in 
New York before he came here. While he resided in Clinton 
county he was commissioned by Governor John Jay May 3, 175)8, 
a lieutenant in the uniformed companies of that county, and while 
residing at Jay, Essex county, he was commissioned by Governor 
George Clinton March 10, 1803, a captain, and discharged the 
duties of that office until until he removed to Covington in 1806. 
He purchased in the township of Covington several hundred acres 
of land, a portion of which was located in the present borough of 
Blossburg. He opened up a vein of bituminous coal, which 
subsequently was mined quite extensively, for those days, by the 
Arbon coal company, and their successors, William M. Mallory & 
Co., Duncan S. Magee, and is now owned and operated by Mr. 
Jacob Jones, of Blossburg. The coal, therefore, with justice, 
Ghould be called the Clemmons coal instead of the Bloss coal, as it 
was upon the lands which the captain owned, that the greater por- 
tion of the coal that was shipped was mined. When he came here 
into Covington township he was a widower with three children, 



rr 

Camilla, Colborn and Hanson. He was afterwards married to 
Ruth Reynolds, and their children were William, Cuyler, Susan, 
Roxanna and James, and many of the captain's descendants are 
living in this locality, and a portion of the (Jlemmons' estate is still 
owned by them," 

"Some people at this day, Harry, claim that the old settlers were 
prone to tell large and extravagant fishing and hunting stories 
which cannot be substantiated by facts. Right across the river, 
Harry, is an indisputable evidence that this section was once the 
very center of fishing operations, where they were generated by 
the million. Away back in the geological history of the world, be- 
fore man was created, there existed in the silurian age, untold 
numbers of fishes, for behold, at the foot of that mountain there 
is a deposit now to be seen of fishes, while the summit of the 
mountam is a thousand feet higher. It would seem that in order 
to dispose of the immense multitude of fishes that abounded in this 
region, the rocks of the Devonian age, the deposits of the Carboni- 
ferous or Coal age, the reptillian, mammalian and the age of man, 
six great periods embracing countless million years, were piled 
upon this age of fishes to hide and exterminate them. Yet in this 
nnieteenth century the rivers and streams were literally overflow- 
ing with fish, so tenacious are they of life and so prolific in propa- 
gation. Tiie strata of fish extends beneath that mountain and 
have remained there for countless centuries, while above it are de- 
posits of sand rock, lime, slate, iron, fire-clay, coal and immen; e 
deposits of rock and earth. That is a fish story which has defied 
the hand of time to obliterate its outlines, or modern story tellers 
to invent a larger or truer one. Where that orchard of old trees 
is, where Captain Clemmons once lived and hereto the left is what 
is termed his homestead. This, Harry, is where I stopped with 
Judge Knapp in lS-26. A little farther on is the homestead of 
Richard Videan, Esq., or Uncle "Dick," as he was familiarly call- 
ed. He was an Englishman by birth and settled on that farm 
about the year 1831. He was one of the most industrious, genial 
and companionable men on the road. He accunnilated a fide pro- 
perty and cleared a fine farm in an unbroken wilderness. He died 
Aprd 6, 1873, aged seventy-four years six months and twelve days. 
Tne present owner of the beautiful farm and homestead is A. J. 
Watkins, who is the owner of about 4(>o acres of land, the largest 
portion of which is under a high state of cultivation. Anothei- old 
settler on this road was Tilley Marvin, who settled here in the year 
1817, cleared up a large farm and was one of the most industrious 
men in this locality. He was four times married and was the 
father of twenty-four children." 

"Sammy, drive over on the east side of the river. This, Uncle 
Jonas, is the residence of Charles F. King, who owns this grist 
mill and a large farm surrounding it. This is the late residence of 
John Wilson, son of one of the early pioneers, Sumner Wilson. 
Here, Uncle Jonas, is the old Covington graveyard, where Aaron 
Bloss and many other of the old citizens who have passed away 
are buried. The glass manufactory on the right here belongs to 
Hirsch, Ely & Co., the same firm that operates the factory at 
Blossbm'g. It is a co-operate company each one being assigned a 



78 

particular duty. It is about sixteen years since they organized 
with ten members at Blossburg. They have been eminently suc- 
cessful. At the two factories they make about sixty thousand 
boxes of window glass, which is shipped to all points east, west, 
north and south. John B. Hirsch is the superintendent of the 
Covington factory, and Benjamin McCoy of the Blossburg fac- 
tory. Michael Ely has charge of the store here at Covington. 
Altogether, Uncle Jonas, it is a firm which gives employment to 
about one hundred men in both factories for ten months a year, 
and is the means of giving employment indirectly to a number of 
laboring men besides." 

"Covington, Uncle Jonas, is one of the oldest villages in Tioga 
county, and for many years was the most prominent business 
town in the county. The township was formed in the year 1815, 
taken from Tioga. Since its formation there has been taken from 
Covington the town of Sullivan, in February, 1816, a portion of 
the town of Liberty in 1823. Richmond in the year 1824, a portion 
of Rutland, which was formed in February, 1828, was in the origi- 
nal limits of Covington. Union was taken from Sullivan in 1830, 
Bloss in 1841, Ward in 1852, Hamilton in December 1872, and the 
boroughs of Covington in 1831, Mansfield in 1857, Mainsburg in 
1859, Fall Brook in 1864, Roseville in 1876 and Blossburg in August 
1871, have all been formed from the original territory of Coving- 
ton. The townships of Liberty and Union lie south of Blossburg 
upon the highlands and join the Lycoming county line. These 
townships are quite thickly settled, with the villages of Ogdensburg, 
Roaring Branch and Gleason, in Union township, and the villages 
of Liberty, Barfelden and Nauvoo in Liberty township. To the 
southeast is the township of Ward, which joins the Bradford 
county line on the east, also the townships of SuUivan to the east 
and northeast Rutland, aggregating in population nearly twenty 
thousand people in the original boundaries of Covington. The coal 
and iron mines at Blossburg, the mines at Morris Run, Fall Brook 
and Arnot were within the territory of Covington. So you per- 
ceive. Uncle Jonas, that Covington has been generous with her 
daughters, the various towns and boroughs which have set up 
business for themselves. For many years " Covington Four Corn- 
ers," as it was then caUed, was a great distributing point. 

The Williamson road was cut out in the year 1792, and extended 
from WiUiamsport, on the west branch of the Susquehanna, up 
the Lycoming creek or river to Trout Run, thence over Laurel 
mountain to the Block House or Liberty in Tioga county, and 
thence to Blossburg and down the valley of the Tioga, passing 
through Covington, Canoe Camp, Mansfield-Tioga, to Lawrence- 
ville, thence to Painted Post and up the Conhocton valley to Bath. 
Soon after this Wilhamson road was cut out and worked a road 
was made by the state of Pennsylvania which ran north from 
Luzerne county to Towanda, in Bradford county, thence west to 
Troy, Sylvania, Sullivan to Covington, and on west to Wellsboro, 
the county seat of Tioga county, thence westward on to Pine Creek 
and up that valley until the summit was reached, and thence west- 
ward to Coudersport, the county seat of Potter county, which waa 
located upon the headwaters or the Allegheny river, thence west- 



79 

ward to Smethport, the county seat of McKean county, and west- 
ward again to Warren, the county seat of Warren county. 

These northern tier counties, Tioga, Potter and McKean, were 
formed in 180i, Bradford county in 1810, although previous to that 
date it was known as the county of Ontario. This state road was 
finished to Covington in the year 1808-9, intersected and crossed 
the Williamson road. At that time there was no other road run- 
ning east and west through Tioga county, until you reached Law- 
renceville, twenty miles to the northward, and that was confined 
principally to the path which had been made by the surveyors of 
New York and Pennsylvania, when they located the state line in 
the year 1786. The transit used was very heavy, weighing not less 
than eight hundred pounds, and had to be drawn on a sled, by a 
team of oxen. The construction of the state road that connected 
the county seats of Bradford, Tioga, Potter, McKean and Warren, 
was a great enterprise, and Covington township covering an im- 
mense territory was the mecca to which many of the early pioneers 
directed their footsteps. Those who settled in the eastei-n portion 
of the township on the highlands east of the valley of Tioga, now 
in the township of SuUivan and Eutland, were principally from 
the New England states. A number of them were from Veim )nt 
and had served in the revolutionary war under Generals Stark and 
Sullivan. In the year 1815, there were in the original territory of 
Covington the following list of taxpayers : David Austin, Samuel 
Aldricn, Ebenezer Burley, David Burley, Alpheus Button, Jo.seph 
Bunn, Rufus Butler, Aaron Bloss, Gideon Briggs, Abner Cochran, 
Henry Campbell, John Cochran, Elijah Clark, "Seth Clark, David 
Clemmens, StiUman Cannon, Samuel Campbell, Levi Elliott, Eli 
Getchell, Aaron Gillet, Charles Gillet, Asahel Graves, Josiah 
Graves, Levi Gifford, Noah Gifford, Samuel Higley, George Hig- 
ley, Timothy Higley, Christopher Huntington, Shubb Huntington, 
John Keltz, Peter Keltz, Henry Knowlton, Absalom Kingsbury, 
Daniel Lamb, Henry Lamb, Gad Lamb, Minard Lawrence, John 
Lovegood, Silas Lamphere, Erastus Lillibridge, Jacob Miller, 
George Matter, Richard Miller, John Marvin, Asa Mann, . Samuel 
Negley, Thomas Overton, EUas Pratt, Rufus Pratt, William Pat- 
ton, Levi Prentice, Thomas Putman, Elijah Putman, Nathan Row- 
ley, Nehemiah H. Ripley, Ichabod Rowley, Cephas Stratton, 
Thomas Sampson, Joshua Shaw, Amos Spencer, L. H. Spencer, 
Ichabod Smith, John Shaffer, Jonathan Sebring, Nathan Whit- 
man, Isaac Walker, Archelius Wilkin s, Daniel Wilkins, Til.ey Mar- 
vin, David Harkness, David Harkness, jr., Royal Walker, Lorain 
Lamb, Seneca Stratton, Wilham Merritt. A number of these then 
lived in that part of Covington Avhich was formed into the town of 
Richmond, in the year 1824. The early settlers in that portion of 
Covington now known as SuUivan, were in the year 1817: John 
Andrews, Isaac Baker, Ananias Baker, Simeon Briggs, Simeon 
Briggs, jr.. Griffin Bailey, Constant Bailey, Thomas R. Corey, 
Paul Cudworth, James Cudworth, David Crippen, Jacob Collins, 
Peleg Doud, Josiah Dewey, Joseph Dewey, John Ellis, David Fel- 
lows, James Gray, Timothy Knowlton, John King, Uriah Loper, 
AUen Lane, jr., Lemuel Lane, Allen Lane, John Luddington, 
WiUiam Luddington, Benjamin Lawrence, Henry Lawrence, Asa^ 



80 

Mann, Reuben Merritt, Ira Muclge, Eli McNett, John Newell, Jesse 
Orvis, Joseph Orvis, Timothy Orvis, David Palmer, John Packhart, 
Jonathan Partridge, Stephen Palmer, H. Pitts, Clement Paine, 
Samuel Reynolds, Enos Rose, Daniel Rose, Jeremiah Rumsey, 
Noah Rumsey, Smith Rumsey, Thomas Raxford, Ehsha Rush, 
John Simpkins, Gardner Seaman, Jesse Smith, Jonathan L. 
Spencer, Lyman Spencer, Benjamin Trout, Nathaniel Welch, 
Ehjah Welch, Nathan Welch, jr., Roswell Webster, Abial Web- 
ster, Zebedee Woodward, Noah Weast, John Watson, Ephraim 
S. Marsh, Eli Getchell, Joseph Ford, Lyman Rumsey, Abijah 
Hawley, Samuel Hardin, Robert Potter, ApoUos Cudworth, John 
Benson, jr., Daniel James, Levi Fox, Isaac Benson, Thomas Ben- 
nett, Benjamin Harrison." 

' 'A number of these were residents of that portion which was 
subsequently organized into the townships of Rutland, Union and 
Ward. The settlers in Rutland township, Uncle Jonas, in the year 
1829, at the time of its formation were, Stewart Austin, John Ar- 
getsinger, Isaac Benson, Ephraim Bryant, Bethuel Spencer, Eben- 
ezer Bacon, Daniel Bunker, Halsey Barton, Hiram Benson, Green 
Bentley, Jacob Benson, Caleb Burrell, Silas Burrell, Sylvester Benson, 
Hiram Beales, Constant Bailey, Peter Burrell, John Benson, Joseph 
Beman, Johnson Brewer, John Britton, Peter Backer, Abraham 
Brown, W. D. Bacon, Sylvenus Benson, William M. Corey, Jabez 
M. Corey, Asa Crippin, David Crippin, Sydney Clark, Cornelius 
Clark, Seeley Cook, Hiram Cooley, Edwin Currie, Joseph Clark, 
Samuel Clark, Lemuel Clark, Harris Corey, John Crippin, Enos 
Curtis, Samuel PI. Coates, Isaac Clymer, John Drake, James Dann, 
James Dann, jr., John B. Dann, Joseph Fletcher, Judah Gilford, 
Nathan Gifford, Nathan Goodwin, Gardiner Gould, Jonathan Grey, 
Eli Grey, Justus Garretson. James Goff, Calvin Hathaway, Hazeal 
Howland, William W. Howland, JohnR. Howland, James Husted, 
Nathaniel Howland, Henry Hull, Seth E. Howland, Baldwin Hay- 
well, Isaac Hagar; David Huntley, Calvin W. Hammer, Thomas 
Johnson, James Job, Daniel King, Benjamin Lawrence, Nathan 
Newberry, Sylvester Newberry, Lucinda Newberry, Elisha Nash, 
Levi Osgood, Richard Lamberton, David Prutsman, Erastus Rose, 
Virgil Rose, WiUiam Rose, Levi Rose, Samuel Reynolds, D. B. 
Reynolds, John Reynolds, Avery Smith, H. Stemmetz, Jesse 
Smith, Betsey Sherman, Jacob C. Stout, Harvey Smith, I. S. 
Smith, Isaac Smith, Cornelius Sharp, Andrew Sharp, Herman 
Suher, Jefferson Sherman, Robert Searles, John Selover, John 
Snyder, Silas Smith, E. Strong, John Slingerland, Tunis Slinger- 
land, Albert Slingerland, William Turner, William Updike, John 
Updike, Henry Updike, Abram Updike, William Wolf, Jonathan 
Wood, Solomon Wood, Ira Weldon, Daniel Wattles, Seth Ward, 
William M. Ward, Justus Wood, Lewis H. Weldon, Ezra Wood, 
Solomon Wood, 2d, James Roselle." 

"You will recollect. Uncle Jonas, that it had only been about 
twenty years, prior to the formation of the township of Rutland, 
that the first settler had located there, a very commendable pro- 
gress. In that portion of Covington, now known as the township 
of Union, the early settlers were: Uria Loper, Joseph Groover, 
John McNett, Eh McNett, Samuel McNett, WiUiam Taylor, Nel- 



son Rutty, Jewett Spencer, sr., Jewett Spencer, jr., Charles 0. 
Spencer, Martin Robinson, Labau Landon, Ezra Landon, John 
Newell, Charles M. Dibble, John Ogden, Luther Ogden, Joseph 
Wilbur, George W. Terry, Alfred Jackson, Nathan Palmer, Martin 
Middaugh, Martin R. Harrington, Peter Skelley, Patrick Skelley, 
Abram Randell, Willi an Barrows, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas 
Tebo, Ithiel B. Reynolds, Thomas Stull, Hiray Gray, Jay White- 
head, William Rathbone, Thomas Decoursey, G. G. Collins, Peter 
B. Harrington, Patrick McCormick, Patrick Wynne. The town- 
ship of Union, Uncle Jonas, is situated in the southeastern portion 
of Tioga county and is touched by the Northern Central railroad at 
Roaring Branch- The early settlers in that portion of Covington, 
now known as the township of Ward, were William Mcintosh, 
Simon McInto:;h, Mathias Mcintosh, Harry Coovert, James Lyon, 
Andrew Kniffiii, Erastus Kili", William R. Lyon, Daniel Hagar, 
Waterman Gates, John Purvis, Simon Conkhng, A. J. Teeter, 
John Kilf. Tiie towns'iip was formed in 1852. We have already, 
Uncle Jonas, been in Blossburg, Morris Run, Fall Brook a;id you 
know abou that portion of Covington township. The tow^nship of 
Liberty, which was a portion of CovinsHon aifd on the line of the 
Williamson road, was early settled at.tne "Block House." Among 
the old settlers were, Jonathan Sebring, George Miller, Peter 
Secrist, Frederic Bower, Jacob Beck, Peter Moyer (Jonathan Se- 
bring kept the hotel for many years), Joseph Opdegralf , Samuel 
Keagie, Isaiah Thompson, Frederic Harrer, Leonard Harrer, John 
Harrer, Peter Sheik, George Schambacher, Fred Schambacher, 
Leonard Schambacher, Joseph Rochenbrode, John Keltz, Phihp 
Kohler, R. C. Cox, C. F. Veile, George Wheeland, Janus Merrell, 
Jacob Welty, Henry Costerison, Jacob Reith, Frederic Bower, 
Daniel Gaup, Henry Schaumeder, John Levegood, Noah Runk, 
John McCurdie, Mathias Yowdis, Michael Bastian, John Weaver, 
Rudolph Crist, Jacob Manaval, Jacob Shreiner, George Bastian, 
John Welty, John Moyer, Samuel Landon, John Lenhart, Michael 
Linck, George Levegood, Christian Corson, Isaac Werhne, John 
Ridge, Henry Springer, Daniel Hartsock, Solomon Roup, James 
Alexander, Daniel Spangler, George Wheeland, Horace Fellows, 
Isaac Foulkrod, John Shetfer, John C. Beiser, John F. Hart, George 
Hebe, Henry Zimmerman, Mrs. Lydia Jane Pierson, the authoress. 
The enumeration of so many names, Uncle Jonas, must be quite 
annoying to you?" 

" Oh, no, Hai::y, I recollect a number of them. There is Jona- 
than Sebring, John Sheffer, Isaac Foulkrod, a considerable number 
of other names you mention in Ijiberty came to Elmira. Then 
there were the McNetts, of Union, and the Ogdens, of Union, I 
had dealings with. Mr. McNett kept a hotel on the line of the 
stage route between Elmira and Williamsport, in the town of 
Union, now McNett township. Then there were the McIntosheSy 
of Ward, frequently came to Elmira, as well as the Luddingtons, 
the Rumseys and Mains, of Sullivan. The Roses, of Rutland, used 
to go down through Jackson township by the way of Dagett Hol- 
low and come into Elmira by the Southport way. Then the 
Spencers, the Laml)s and the Manns, of Richmond (then Coving- 
ton) made frequent visits to Elmira, or Newtown, as it was then 



82 

called, while from here were the Putnams, the Dyers, the Wilsons, 
the Graves, the Walkers, the Strattons, the Marvins, the Gaylords, 
the Smiths, and many others I was acquainted with. You know, 
Harry, that Butler B. Smith was from Southport— near Elmira. I 
knew him well. I also knew Tilley Marvin, Sumner Wilson and 
his boys, John C. Bennett, his son-in-law, who married Olive Wil- 
son, in fact Harry there are many names you have repeated that 
are perfectly fresh in my memory. Eljiah Putnam, Harry, was a 
relative ^of General Israel Putnam, of revolutionary fame. He 
came here as e^rly as 1809. One of his daughters. Miss Sally, 
married Peter Keltz, an energetic business man. His son, General 
Tom Putnam, I was well acquainted with. In those days, Harry, 
I beheve the people were more social than now. When I left 
Elmira, there was scarcely a family that I did not know from 
Elmira to Towanda and Canton, from Tioga Point to Owego, and 
from Elmira to Painted Post, Bath, Addison, Canisteo, HorneUs- 
viUe, Lindley, LawrencevilUe, Beecher's Island, Elkland and Knox- 
ville. Silas Bilhngs, from Southport, went and located at Knox- 
ville as early as 1823 and became one of the greatest lumbermen in 
Tioga county. All along this Tioga valley I had acquaintances, 
also from Elmira northward to Geneva, and northeastward to 
Pony Hollow, Spencer, Newfield, Ithaca and Cortland. I am told 
that the Rev. Harvey Lamkin resides here now. He was born in 
Ulysses, Tompkins county, about the year 1812. He is also an 
associate judge of this county. Harry, have Sammy drive over 
the bridge across on the west side of the river, I want to see how 
it looks over there." 

" Uncle Jonas, you saw that gentleman go into the smith shop, 
there? " '" Yes." "Well, that is George Baker, brother of Richard 
Baker, of Southport. He has resided here many years. Thomas 
Putnam hves there on the right in that neat cottage. Above here 
•on the river road is the residence of Victor Gray, one of the oldest 
locomotive engineers in the country. He ran on the old Corning 
and Blossburg railroad forty-five years ago. This side of his house 
is the gun-shop of Ira Patchin, son in-law of the late General 
Thomas Putnam. He has resided in Covington forty-eight years. 
He has secured a competency for his old age. His trade was a 
very important one for many years. People came for twenty-five 
and fifty miles to get their guns repaired or new ones made. There 
was a seminary established here in 1841 by Professor Julius Doane 
who instructed students in the higher branches. He died quite re- 
cently at a very advanced age. Dr. Henry Kilbourne, sr., settled 
in Covington in the year 1828. He came in from Vermont. He 
practiced medicine for fifty -five years, and now resides at Blossburg. 
There are many interesting reminiscences connected with the his- 
tory of Covington which I would hke to recall, but which I fear 
we shall not have time to do so. I see. Uncle Jonas, that the bor- 
ough of Covington now contains four churches, Presbyterian, Bap- 
tist, Methodist and Christian, a graded school, an Odd Fellows hall, 
a glass manufactory, a mineral water bottling establishment, a 
fruit evaporator and the usual complement of stores, saloons, drug 
stores, etc. There are a number of neat and cosy dwellings, with 
fine yards and lawns,. Covington has increased materially in pop. 



83 



Illation in the past three years, and contains now about one thou- 
sand inhabitants. It is surrounded by a splendid farming country 
and is gradually gaining back her old-time character as a business 
center. 



TRIP TO MANSFIELD 



UNCLE JONAS FINDS MANY THINGS TO INTEREST HIS READERS. 

"We will drive up to the store of A. M. Bennett, son of John C. 
Bennett, where will find quite a number of the old residents and 
sons of old residents. It is about time for the reception of the mail 
from the north." 

They drive up and Uncle Jonas and Harry alight. Uncle Jonas 
is introduced to J. C. Bennett, Matthew Skelley, Otis G. Gerould, 
son of Ephraim Gerould, John S. Hoagland, Floyd C. Phelps, 
Frederic M. Patchen, Jacob Hartman, Doctor Robbins, Stephen F. 
Richards, G. A. Spring, G. W. Keltz, Captain Daniel Wilson, 
Sumner Wilson, Charles Rowland, ex-Sheriff Delos H. Walker, 
Judge L. B, Smith, A. L. Meeker, Hemy Fick (an extensive 
farmer), Thomas Putnam, and it so happened that several were 
present from the eastern portion of the township, among whom 
were James T. Frost, Charles Jacques and Lyman Frost. Uncle 
Jonas and Harry talked over old times and inquired after many 
old settlers who had gone to their last resting-place. 

A half hour was thus enjoyably spent, when they again took 
their carriage and were driven off down the road towards Canoe 
Camp. Uncle Jonas was in the best of health and spirits, and as 
they passe I down the valley he pointed out to Harry the former 
residences of the old settlers. Up Elk run were the early homes 
of Alonzo Reddington, James Pettis, Asahel Graves, Jonathan 
Jennings, Isaac Bliss (father of the celebrated P. P. Bliss, the 
evangelist, who met witli such a fearful death at Ashtabula, De- 
cember 30, 1876), and along the valley he pointed out the old Sum- 
ner Wilson homestead, the James Negely place, Robert Searles's 
and all the points of interest until they arrived at Canoe Camp. 
There he explained to Harry the origin of the name "Canoe Camp," 
It was at that place that in 1792, when Robert and Benjamin Pat- 
terson were conducting tiie German and Enghsh emigrants from 
Northumberland to found Bath upon the Pulteney estate, tliat 
canoes were made at the mouth of this creek, in which the emi- 
grants were floated down the river to Painted Post, from where 
they ascended the Conhocton river. The emigrants were discour- 
aged. They were nearly out of provisions and halted there for 
rest. Benjamin Patterson ordered the woodsmen coJinected with 
the party to cut down pine trees and hew out canoes or "dug outs," 
while he would strike across the mountains and unbroken wilder- 
ness to Tioga Point, -where there was a trading house, and secure 
provisions to be poled up the Chemung river in'boats. He success- 
fully accomphshed his mission, purchased the provisions and hired 
eight stalwart boatmen to deUver the goods at Painted Post or near 



84: 

tb©^©. When h© returned from Tioga Point the boats were com- 
pletedj but the emigrants at first refused to enter the boats, saying 
tliat they were being taken into the wilderness to starve or perish. 
The Patterson brothers were determined men, liad both seen ser- 
vice in the border Indian wars of the revolution, and were not to 
be trifled with. They seized their rifles and tomahawks, and 
threatened to shoot the first emigrant who refused to enter the 
boats. The women and children with their baggage were first 
embarked, followed by the old and the sick, while many of the 
men were compelled to run along the bank of the river in the old 
Indian path, hallooing and shouting in German or broken English, 
implori]ig and imprecating at each alternate breath. About five 
o'clock in the afternoon, as they approached Painted Post, they 
met the boatmen with their cargoes of flour, bacon, pork, sugar, 
coffee and tobacco. A landing was effected on an island near the 
present site of Fox, Weston & (Jo.'s saw mill, a fire was soon built 
and the evening meal was prepared in haste. As the odor of the 
fra^'rant coffee was inhaled, the drooping spirits of the emigrants 
revTved, and when they had eaten to their hearts' content, the 
Pattersons were the modern Moses, who had delivered them, and 
their chants of praise were as earnest as had their imprecations 
and anathemas been. From that circumstance Canoe Camp de- 
rived its name. 

"There is another circumstance, Harry, connected with its his- 
tory that I will mention. On the 16th of January, 1836, Governor 
Joseph Ritner approved the act incorporating the Tioga navigation 
company, which finally by supplements become the Tioga rairoad 
company or the Corning and Blossburg railroad company. The 
idea had been entertained as eai^ly as 1824 to make the Tioga river 
navigable for boats. In the year 1836 Christian H. Charles and 
Chaises Sikes constructed arks at this point, loaded them with the 
Blossburg coal and ran them down the river to Corning. There 
was no way of getting them back, so they were sold, and ex-Sh r.ff 
"V^ illiam T. Reeder, then a resident of Big Flats, purchased them 
and erected a dwelling in the viflage of Big Flats, a few rods north 
of the Erie railroad. This place has also been known as Spencer's 
Mills, in honor of Amos Spencer, who located here in 18U6, and 
erected one of the first grist mills on the Tioga river. The property 
is still in the hands of his descendants, and the milling business is 
carried on now quite extensively by A. M. Spencer. That fine 
residence there on the left is his. The early settlers here were 
Isaac Lounsberry, Ichabod Rowley, Amos Spencer and Cephas 
Stratton. This was formerly in the township of Covington, but 
now in the township of Richmond. The game upon the hillsides 
and flats here was very plenty years ago, and one of the finest 
hunting grounds in the Tioga valley. The hiUs were low and easy 
of access, and the river was a great watering place. There were 
other game besides the deer and elk — bears, panthers, wolves and 
wild cats. A panther once came down from the hiUside and killed 
a yearling heifer in the yard near here. Pursuit was made, and 
the huge monster, after a few hours, was captured on the monu- 
tain side south of here, near the Captain David Clemmens farm. 
The early settlers had many obstacles to contend with. The hewing 



55 

down of the forest and the letting in of the sunlight to warm 
and fertilize the earth, was only a portion of their strife. In the 
year 1817 a frost killed all the corn, wheat and rye in this valley. 
It was termed the cold season. Corn brought three dollars per 
bushel, and was scarce at that. With a heroism and bravery equal 
to the Spartan band they maintained their ground and lived to see 
the hand of plenty distributing her mumlicent and well-earned 
fruits. I see, Harry, tliat the tarmers of -this valley are quite ex- 
tensively engaged in growing tobacco. Whose large tobacco shed 
is that V' 

"That shod, Uncle Jonas, belongs to Isaac P. Lounsberry, son of 
one of the early pion-iers here. We are now approaching the 
Manstield borough line, which divides the township of Eichmond 
and it— Mansfield, was organized as a borough in 1857, and taken 
from the township of Richmond. Richmond was organized as a 
township in lS'2-i, taken from Covington. Mansfield was named 
in honor of Asa Mann, an early settler and an enterprising and 
public-spirited gentleman. He came into this valley in 1810. He 
was prominent in the affairs of the county, and in the year 1817 
was named as one of the trustees of the Wellsboro Academy, char- 
tered and founded by the state of Pennsylvania. Prominent also 
among the early settlers of Mansfield and the town of Richmond 
were : Gad Lamb. Lorain Lamb, Benjamin Corey, David Miller, 
Cheeney Ames, Lemuel Ames, Elihu Marvin, John Cochrane, 
Joshua Shaw, Levi Gitchell, Eli Mitchell, Elijah Clark, Ebenezer 
Buiiey (a revolutionary soldier), Peter Kelce, Jacob Allen (a revo- 
lutionary soldier), Daniel Holden, Hezekiah Gaylord, Stillman 
Cannon, Marcus Kelley, John Kelley, Dexter Parkhurst, M. D., 
Christopher Huntingdon (a revolutionary soldier), Isaac Louns- 
berry (a revolutionary soldier), Almon Allen, Elijah P. Clark, 
Justus B. Clark, Abner Cochran, the Rev. Nehemiah Ripley, Wil- 
liam C. Ripley, Ebenezer Ripley, Letson Lounsberry, Ira Louns- 
berry, Elihu Marvin, Isaac Lounsberry, Peter Whittaker, Aaron 
Gillett, Alvin Gaylord, Porter Gaylord, Daniel Sherwood, Daniel 
Lee Sherwood, the Rev, Abijah Sherwood, Michael Frahch. the 
Rev. Asa Donaldson, Loren Butts, Ezra Davis, and - prominent 
among the citizens of Mansfield and Richmond at a later date were 
Dewitt Clinton Holden, Isaac Holden, John A. Holden, Dr. Joseph 
P. Morris, Colonel Joseph S. Hoar, George W. King, ]\Iart King, 
Lyn;an Beach, L. H. Elhott, the Hon. Charles V. Elliott, Daniel 
Pitts, the Hon. Simon B. Elliott, Benjamin M. Bailey, Levi Cooper, 
William Hollands, John Murdaugh, Captain A. M. Pitts, E. L.' 
Sperry, Philip Williams, A. J. Ross, Charles S. Ross, Clark W*. 
Bailey, Thomas H. Bailey, William Adams, John W. Adams, 
Frank W. Clark, J. M. Clark, Professor Charles H. Verrill, Pro- 
fessor D. C. Thomas, ApoUos Pitts, Captain E. R. Backer, Andrew 
Sherwood, Charles Kingsbury, Dyer J. Butts, Isaac Lounsberry, 
Jr., Chai-les Sherman, A. M. Spencer, Thomas Jerald, G. N. Welch, 
Colonel Nathaniel A. Elliott, Homer Kingsley, Captain Samuel 
Hunt, James R. Wilson, Charles Knapp, Henry M. Allen, L. H. 
Shattuck, Oliver Elliott, Edward Doane, Robert' Crossley, Colonel 
Victor A. Elliott, P. M. Clark, Benjamin Wilson, A. J. Webster, 
R. K. Brundage, George W. Vorhes, T F. Rolason, P. M. Spencer) 



86 

N. Kingsley, Clarence E. Allen, R. E. Olney, Dr. L. A. Eidgeway,. 
Frank Kohler, Dr. Cole, T. V. Moore, Burt Schrader, Vine R. Pratt^ 
F. M. Allen and Professor F. A. Allen. 

Without detracting anything from the reputation of any other 
gentleman who has resided in Mansfield since its first settlement, 
the name of Professor Fordyce A. Allen stands out most promi- 
nent. No more successful business man, no more able teacher of 
the youth, no more public spirited or more distinguished citizen 
ever resided within its limits. He made the state normal school a 
success, he founded the Soldiers' orphan school and made it a suc- 
cess, reflecting honor upon himself and the commonwealth, and 
conferring a lasting benefit upon the soldiers' orphans of the state. 
He did more to elevate the profession of teaching than any man in 
the United States. His voice was heard in teachers institutes from 
Maine to Cahfornia, from the sources of the rivers of the north to- 
their sunny entrances into the great bays and gulfs of the south. 
Wherever he went he took lessons of common-sense and prac- 
tical ideas, and impressed them upon his hearers with that clear- 
ness and systematic deduction, that made a permanent and lasting 
impression. While his elocution might not have been faultless, 
yet his rhetoric was of that pleasing, instructive and insinuating 
kind, that his voice was like the harmony of blended chords of the 
sweetest music. His logic was as accurate as the fundamental 
principles of mathematics. With a heart overflowing with good 
will towards mankind, he controlled his pupils by kindness and his- 
hearers by the gentleness of his manner and the smiles of his coun- 
tenance. He not only left a monument in his honor in the educa- 
tional department of "the country, but he was for several years a 
member of the state board of agriculture of Pennsylvania, and by 
his thorough knowledge of the chemistry of difl'erent soil incident 
to the valleys, plains, plateaus and hills of Pennsylvania, he im- 
pressed his coadjutors with his practical theories and by the per- 
sonal application of his knowledge demonstrated the truth of his 
position. That beautiful farm you see on the west side of the 
Tioga river. Uncle Jonas, was owned by the professor in his life- 
time and is a certificate of his practical and scientifixC knowledge. 
He was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, July 10, 1820. In 
the year 1822 came with his parents to Mansfield, and received his 
early education in the common school. After many years' absence 
from Mansfield he returned in the year 1865 and took charge of the 
state normal school, putting his whole energy and practical knowl- 
edge to the building up of the reputation of that institution. In 
1867 he instituted the soldiers orphan school and carried that on 
successfully. Whatever was calculated to benefit the interests of 
the school and community at large, that he entered into with a 
spirit and will, that knew no such word as 'fail.' I was well 
acquainted with him. Uncle Jonas, and never weary in speaking 
his praise. He attended a meeting of the state board of agricul- 
ture at Harrisburg about the 1st day of February, 1880. It so hap- 
pened. Uncle Jonas, that I was there at that time. The meeting 
was held in the state library room, and was overheated by steam. 
The professor was warmly clad going down there from Northern 
Pennsylvania. His labors were great. In going from the room. 



87 

he went immediately to the railroad station and took a sleeper for 
Elmira. He caught a severe cold which culminated in pneumonia 
and on the 11th day of February, 1880, he died. I took a very 
severe cold, and was so sick that I was unable to attend his fun- 
eral. It was indeed a sad day for Mansfield." 

''This was Smythe Park, Uncle Jonas. A most successful fair 
is held here annually. Drive in at the gate, Sammy, and we will 
look over the grounds ! This association was organized in the 
year 1879; one of the prime movers in the organization was Pro- 
fessor F. A. Allen. Its present officers are Thomas H. Bailey, 
president; D. J. Butts, vice-president; Mart King, secretary; Phillip 
Williams, treasurer; Mart King, T. H. Bailey, D. H. Pitts, V. R. 
Pratt, J. A. Elliott, J. M. Clark, trustees. The fairs are held 
under the auspices of the Tioga county agricultural, mechanical 
and industrial association." 

"Well, I declare, Harry, these are beautiful grounds, with all 
the necessary sheds, stalls, exhibition rooms, tracks, grandstands, 
pavilions and dining halls. What a beautiful shade these trees of 
natural planting make ! It reminds me of those trees that years 
ago grew on Clinton island at Elmira." "Now, Sammy, drive 
around by the State Normal school ! These splendid buildings and 
prosperous school are the outgrowth of the "Mansfield Seminary," 
which was organized February 15, 1855, under the patronage of 
the East Genesee Methodist Episcopal Conference. The first 
building was opened for school purposes in January, 1857, J. R. 
Jacques, A. M., first principal. The school had only been in oper- 
ation three months when the building was burned. The work of 
reconstruction was commenced immediately, but the trustees were 
sorely pressed for money to carry out their plans. The building, 
however, was partially completed and school re-opened November 
23, 185'J, the Rev. J. Landreth, A. M., principal. The successor 
of Mr. Landreth was Professor E. Wildeman, the next year the 
building was completed. In the year 1862, the school was reor- 
ganized as a State Normal school, being the third normal school in 
the state of Pennsylvania, and the Rev. W. D. Taylor succeeded Pro- 
fessor Wildeman. Professor Taylor was succeeded by Professor 
F. A. Allen, of whom I have already spoken — who served five 
years most acceptably, placing the institution upon a firm basis, 
and securing appropriations and aid from the state to enlarge the 
capacity of the school. Professor J. T. Streit was chosen to suc- 
ceed Professor Allen, but being in feeble health was unable to 
enter upon the work, when Professor C. H. Verrill, a successful 
teacher, was selected. Professor Verrill was succeeded by Pro- 
fessor J. N. Fradenburgh, who acted as principal for some time, 
when, upon the very urgent requests of the trustees. Professor F. 
A. Allen again became the principal. I might here remark, Uncle 
Jonas, that during the early financial history of the institution the 
Hon. John Magee, of Bath, loaned the institution $6,500, which he 
Bubsequently donated to it. After the death of Professor Allen in 
1880, Professor D. C. Thomas was chosen principal, and is ably dis- 
charging that duty at present. I have, Uncle Jonas, only given you 
an outline of its history, for it would take hours to relate aU the 
history, its hom-s of adversity and moments of prosperity. It is a 



88 



successful institution now, and is annually making improvements, 
extending its influence wider and wider, and diffusing lasting les- 
sons of science and education. Drive down on to Mam or William 
street, Sammy !" 

"That building on the corner is the soldiers' orphan school, 
founded by the late Professor F. A. Allen, and opened October 1, 
1867. In 1872 a farm of ] 50 acres was purchased by Professor 
Allen, located on the west side of the river near the school, where 
boys in attendance at the school w^ere given practical lessons in 
farming. The girls, in addition to their studies, are taught prac- 
tically how to be good housekeepers. There are usually about 200 
pupils in attendance, about equally divided in regard to sex. I 
have visited this school frequently, Uncle Jonas, and regard it as one 
of the model schools of the councry. There is more practical com- 
mon sense exercised in its management and instruction than any 
school I ever visited, either in Pennsylvania or New York. For 
many years Professor Vine R. Pratt was the chief assistant of Pro- 
fessor Allen. After the decease of Professor Allen his widow, 
Mrs. Jane Allen, a lady eminently qualified for the task, who had 
always been in sympathy and accord with the professor in his 
plans and designs, assumed charge of the school and continued 
Mr. Pratt as her assistant and superintendent. If we had a httle 
more time at our disposal. Uncle Jonas, I should insist upon mak- 
ing a visit to the school. That fine brick edifice on the west side 
of the street below the postoffice is the Mansfield Business and 
Commercial College. F. M. Allen, son of Professor F. A. Allf n, 
erected that fine brick on the right of us as a commercial college, 
and had a very successful commencement; but subsequently con- 
cluded to remove to Elmira and opened a commercial and business 
school in the Advertiser association building. The elegant and 
costly brick edifice on the west side of the railroad, with its fine 
yard and play grounds, is the Mansfield graded school. The cost 
of the building and its furniture, steam heating apparatus, etc., 
was about §18,000. It was erected in the year 1881. We will now 
drive to the Grand Central Hotel, kept by W. S. Earnest, and we 
will take dinner." 

"Mr. Earnest, this is Uncle Jonas Lawrence, who is visiting 
your beautiful village." 

" Glad to meet you, Mr. Laivrence, walk in, dinner will soon be 
ready." 

"Well, Harry, this is cheerful and cosy. These Tioga county 
landlords have a faculty of making their guests feel comfortable 
and at home. Mansfield has grown wonderfully since I saw it 
forty-four years ago. It was a mere hamlet then. The business 
places are substantial, the dwelhngs are elegant and the whole ap- 
pearance of the place is bright and cheerful." 

"Across the river yonder, near where you see the smoke issuing 
from that stack, a furnace was erected about the year 1855 by a 
company incorporated for that purpose. The manufacture of pig 
iron was carried on quite successfully for several years. A large 
portion of the ore used was obtained from an ore bank a short dis- 
tance to the west of the furnace, . The furnace finally passed into 
the hands of a firm who resided at Reading, Pa. In the year 1880 



89 

the company owning it got into difficulty concerning the running 
of the business and it was finally torn down about a year ago, not 
because the manufacture of iron was unprofitable, but for the 
reason the owners could not agree upon the manner in which the 
business should be conducted. John W. Phelj^s was for many 
years its superintendent and manager." 

Dinner being over they dismiss Sammy Sage, the driver, and 
send him back to Blossburg well pleased with his service as a team- 
ster. Uncle Jonas and Harry take a walk about town. 
" Is there a printing office in the village, Harry?" 
"Oh, yes, Uncle Jonas, there is a most excellent newspaper 
printed here now under the title of the Mansfield Advertiser, whose 
editors and proprietors are F. E. VanKeuren and S. E. Coles. 
They publish a four page, eight column weekly, neutral in politics. 
It has a large circulation. The office is supplied with a steam 
power press and all the facilities for doing a first-class business in 
job work. A newsp.aper was first started in Mansfield in the year 
1856 with I. M. Ruckman as editor. The name of the paper was 
the Balance, subsequently christened the Mansfield Express. The 
editors were in the order named: I. M. Ruckman, the Hon. S. B, 
Elliott, J. S. Hoard. The type and fixtures were finally sold and 
taken to Kansas. In 1872, Henry C. Mills, of Lawrenceville, re- 
moved from that borough ji newspaper office and established it at 
Mansfield under the title of the Valley Enterprise. Mr. MiUs sold 
out his interest and the paper was issued as the Mansfield Adver- 
tiser, which name it has since borne. The editors have been V. A. 
Elhott, O. D. Goodenough, D. A. Farnham, Vine R. Pratt, William 
A. Rowland, and the present editors and proprietors, Messrs. Van 
Keuren and Coles, who have added largely to its facilities in every 
respect. This, Uncle Jonas, is a no-license borough. In the year 
1870, in view of the many students who were attending the normal 
and other schools a law was passed prohibiting the sale of intoxi- 
cating liquor within two miles of the state normal school. It is 
claimed by many that the effect of that law is beneficial to the in- 
habitants of the borough as well as the students of the school, and 
it is also claimed by others that its provisions are evaded in many 
ways and that liquor is snuiggled in from other localities. It is 
not clear in my mind whether it operates for the benefit of the 
student or to his injury. The churches of Mansfield are the Bap- 
tist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Universalist. The 
Baptist church was organized in 18-13, the Methodist in 181:4, the 
Episcopal in May, 18G7, the Presbyterian in April, 1870, and the 
Universalist in 1882. They are all well attended and supported. 
A church of Christ was instituted as early as July 5, 1832, by the 
Rev. David Higgins, of Bath, and the Rev. E. D. Wells, of Law- 
renceville, who were a committee appointed for that purpose by 
the presbytery of Bath, N. Y. The members constituting the 
church were Amariah Robbins, Joel Harkness, Joseph Thomjison, 
John Backer, John W. Donaldson, Timothy Orvis, John KeUey, 
Mary Cooley, Hannah Kelley, Thanks Webster, Delia Donaldson, 
Emily Sexton, Anna Finks, Roxalana Bro^^^l and Rachel Orvis. 
The missionary in charge was the Rev. Asa Donaldson. The 
church was known as the First Presbyterian church of Richmond. 



90 

It ceased to exist as an organization a number of years ago. The 
first store erected in Manstield was built by Daniel Holden in the 
year 1826. The first brick house was erected by ex-Sheriff Benja- 
min Gitchell in the year 1841. It stands in the southern portion 
of the borough, a few rods west of Smythe park. Several canal 
boats designed for use upon the Chemung and Erie canals were 
built at Mansfield in the years 1815, 1816 and 1817 by Edward 
Faulkner, Amos Bixby, Gurdon Fuller and John Holden. They 
were fioated down the river to Corning when there was a freshet. 
The first framed house was built in Mansfield by Peter Keltz in the 
year 1810. The first postoffice in the township of Richmond was 
established at Canoe Camp in the year 1822, with Amos Spencer as 
postmaster. The first grist mill in the township was erected by 
Elchee Marvin, in the year 1805. In a year or two thereafter a 
grist miU was erected by Amos Spencer at Canoe Camp. Canoe 
Camp and Mansfield for many years were rival settlements, and 
situated only about two miles apart, the rivalry at some times was 
very exciting, particularly so when Amos Spencer succeeded in 
getting a postofiice established at Canoe Camp, his place of resi- 
dence. In the year 1824 Chandler Mann erected a tannery at 
Mansfield, and Almon AUen, father of Prof. P. A. AUen built a 
woolen factory." 



MANSFIELD. 



CONTINUATION OF PIONEER REMINISCENCES — PROMINENT MEN OF 

TO-DAY. 

Prominent among the many who worked industriously and in- 
telligently for the success of the State Normal School and the pros- 
perity of Mansfield was the Hon. Simon B. Elliott, for many years 
a resident of Mansfield, but now living in Clearfield county, Penn- 
sylvania. He is a son of Larman H. Elliott and was born at She- 
shequin, Bradford county. Pa., in the year 1830. He came to 
Mansfield when he was about seventeen years of age, and* by dili- 
gence and industry acquired the trade or profession of architect, 
civil and mining engineer. He was the architect of the State Nor- 
mal School building and deserves great credit for his untiring 
efforts in its behalf. In the year 1860 he was elected a member of 
the state legislature of Pennsylvania when Tioga county had only 
one representative in that body, and served his constituents and 
the commonwealth honorably and acceptably. He was elected as 
a republican. While a resident of Mansfield he did many things 
to advance its prosperity. He was an indefatigable worker — labor- 
ing at his profession, caring for the public welfare, occupying the 
editorial chair and bringing into public notice the educational ad- 
vantages of Mansfield. In 1871 he became interested with the 
Tioga railroad company and later was superintendent in charge of 
the company's coal mines at Arnot. While in that capacity he 
superintended personally the erection of coke ovens and the build- 
ing of the largest coal washer and crusher in the state of Pennsyl- 
vania. He also superintended the erection of four hundred coke 



91 

ovens for the Fall Brook coal company at Tioga village and all the 
necessary appendages, and is probably one of the very best experts 
in the construction of coke ovens and their attendant appliances 
in the state. Place and position has not made him arrogant and 
unapproachable. He is held in high esteem by the laboring men, 
miners and all classes of persons in Tioga county. 

"This. Uncle Jonas, is the office of John W. Adams, Esq., r 
lawyer, who is a son of WiUiam Adams, Esq., one of the pioneea 
printers of Tioga county, and that is the office of Henry Allen, a 
lawyer who has been district attorney of Tioga county. In the 
same building Mart King, a justice of the peace, has an office. He 
was for many years a prominent manufacturer of Mansfield, but 
has met with severe losses from fire. He was one of the prime 
movers in the Smythe park association and for six years was its 
active and energetic president. He is now the secretary of the 
association and a large share of its management devolves upon 
him. He is a son of the late George W. King, who was a 
soldier of the war of 1812, and who settled in Mansfield forty-three 
years ago. Mart King was for six years the popular conductor on 
the Corning and Blossburg railroad from the year 1852 to 1858 and be- 
came widely known for his gentlemanly bearing and his careful at- 
tention to duty. For about ten years he was extensively engaged in 
milling and the purchase and sale of grain, when he established a 
bedstead manufactory, supplying it with the most approved and 
costly machinery. In about a year thereafter his manufactory 
was burned, which he immediately rebuilt and continued to in- 
crease and enlarge his business, giving employment to a large 
number of men, until July 4th, 1884, when Mr. King and a large 
number of citizens from Mansfield were enjoying themselves at a 
celebration in Blossburg, the manufactory took fire and was en- 
tirely consumed, involving a loss of many thousand dollars. Mr. 
King did not rebuild. He is a pleasant gentlemen sixty years of 
age, genial and companionable. He was born in Washington 
county, New York, in the year 1825. You would be pleased, 
Uncle Jonas, to make his acquaintance. He is a staunch repub- 
Ucan. 

"This, Uncle Jonas, is the business place of S. J. Shepard, and 
over across the way is the drug store and office of Dr. Charles V. 
Elliott, one of the prominent citizens of Mansfield. He is a son of 
Larman H. Elliott and brother of the Hon. Simon H. Elliott. He 
is a graduate of the medical college at Geneva, N. Y., and has been 
a resident of Mansfield for the past thirty-eight years. He is a 
republican in politics, was postmaster from 1860 to 1872, and in the 
year 1876 was elected one of the representatives from Tioga county 
in the state legislature, serving two terms in that body, and being 
on some of the most important committees of the house, among 
them the committee of ways and means and the approoriation 
committee. He is one of the trustees of the state normal* school. 

"This is the store of WiUiam Holland, one of Mansfield's most 
honored mechanics. He is a harnessmaker by trade, and has been a 
resident of Mansfield for the past thirty-five years. He is an 
Englishman by birth and is a zealous churchman. He has acted 
in the capacity of superintendent of Sunday schools for fifty-six 
years — thirty-three years of that period in Mansfield. 



92 

" One of the most substantial business and banking firms of this 
borough has been that of Ross & WiUiams. Andrew J. Ross was 
born in Pike township, Bradford county, Pa., February 23, 1827, 
and died August 18, 1875. Philhp Wilhams was born in Troy 
township, Bradford county, Pa., in the year 1826 and came to 
Mansfield in 1837. In the year 1855 he and A. J. Ross entered into 
co-partnership and on the 21th day of May, 1872, they established 
Ross & Williams' Bank. Three years later Mr. Ross died and his 
son, Charles S. Ross, succeeded him in the business. The firm of 
Ross & Williams is thus continued. Mr. Charles S. Ross is a 
thorough and energetic man, and Mr. Williams a careful and 
judicious financier. Both have been conspicuously connected with 
every enterprise calculated to foster and build up the business in- 
terests of Mansfield and surrounding country. Mr. Ross was for 
several years the very energetic secretary of the Smythe park asso- 
ciation, and Philip Wilhams the treasurer. Across the way, Uncle 
Jonas, is the store of the Pitts brothers, Daniel H. and A. M. Pitts. 
For many years they have been engaged in the mercantile business 
and are gentlemen who stand high in the community." 

"What about the Holdens, Harry ^ I was acquainted with Daniel 
Holden and his sons Daniel Holden, the elder, came to Mansfield 
in the year 1819 from Albany, N. Y., and in the year 1820 erected 
a store in the southern portion of Mansfield and continued in the 
mercantile business until his death in 1830. Dewitt Chnton Holden, 
his son, occupied the Holden homestead and increased its domain. 
He was for many years one of the most enterprising business men 
in the Tioga valley. He was born October 4th, 1818, and died in 
the year 1871. A large portion of the dwellings in the southern 
portion of Mansfield are located upon his estate. His brothers 
were Daniel L., Isaac, John A., George R., Horace W. Horace is 
now a resident of Elmira." 

" That building on the left. Uncle Jonas, is used as a cigar man- 
ufactory and occupied by Voorhes & Co. The senior member of the 
firm is G. W. Voorhes, son of your old Southport friend, Henry W. 
Voorhes. The estabUshment employs about fifty men and women. 
Yonder comes Colonel EUiott, Uncle Jonas. I want to make you 
acquainted with him. Colonel Elhott this is Uncle Jonas Law- 
rence. "Glad to meet you. Uncle Jonas, and glad to know that 
you are visiting your old time haunts and pubhshing your very 
interesting sketches in the Elmira Advertiser. I read those 
sketches with very great interest. My father, Levi Elliott, was 
one of the early settlers in this valley. He came from the state of 
Maine in the year 1809 and settled in the township of Covington, 
which embraced a large township now composed of several town- 
ships and boroughs. I was born in Covington in the year 1817 
and have always hved in this county." 

"Well, Harry, the colonel is a well-preserved and active old 
gentleman." "Yes, Uncle Jonas, he is, and has been one of the 
active business men of this valley. He represented this county in 
the state legislature in the year 1848 as a democrat. Has since 
been county commissioner for six years, one of the most responsible 
offices in the county. You will bear in mind. Uncle Jonas, that 
in Pennsylvania three county commissioners perform the duties 



93 I 

allotted to the supervisors in the state of New York. The commis- 
sioners in Pennsylvania equalize the assesssments, levy the taxes, 
take charge of the county buildings, court house, jail, poor house, 
and county bridges and roads, look after the poor and insane, pass 
upon all accounts presented against the county and collect aU 
claims in its favor, and exercise generally a supervision over county 
affairs. It is therefore of the utmost importance that honest, 
capable and thorough business men should be selected for that pur- 
pose. Colonel N. A. Elliott filled the bill, and the people of the 
county retained him for six years in that capacity. He is the 
father of the Hon. Mortimer F. Elliott, the distinguished lawyer 
of Wellsboro and ex-congressman-at-large for the state of Penn- 
sylvania. 

"Harry, there was a family of Gaylords here with whom I was 
acquainted." 

"Yes, Uncle Jonas, Hezekiah Gaylord came to Mansfield from 
Vermont in the year 1822. His brother Elijah had settled in Sul- 
li^^an township in the year 1819, and in the year 1820 settled at 
Covington. Both had large families. Hezekiah Gaylord died in 
Mansfield in the year 1850, aged eighty-one years. Al vin Gaylord, 
one of the sons, who reared a large family, died in the year 187(5, 
aged seventy-seven years. He was a very active member of the 
Methodist church, being one of the charter members, and was the 
first high constable when Mansfield was formed into a boro' twen- 
ty-eight years ago. The descendants of the Gaylords are quite 
numerous in Mansfield to-day. Uncle Jonas, permit me to make 
you acquainted with Captain E." R. Backer, one of Mansfield's 
prominent citizens. Captain Backer, Uncle Jonas, is a native of 
Rutland, Tioga county. Pa., and was born January G, 1840. Dur- 
ing the late rebellion he raised a company of cavalry, serving with 
distinction during the term of enlistment. He received an honor- 
able discharge and raised another company and re-entered the ser- 
vice. Captain Backer, Uncle J onas, is a staunch republican, and 
a pleasant and agreeable gentleman. Mr. Lawrence, I am really 
pleased to meet you and your nephew, Harry Sampson, and 
should be pleased to receive a call from you at my house. I thank 
you Captain, but Harry and I are strolling about, looking over old 
land- marks and conversing upon the people and the changes that 
have taken place within the last forty years. Cantain, I once at- 
tended the raising of a barn erected by Clinton fiolden about the 
year 1840. It was at the time that the railroad was being graded 
and completed. Business called me here from Elmira, and I want- 
ed to see several gentlemen; but upon going to their homes or 
places of business, I found they were all gone to Clint. Holden's 
barn raising. Anxious to see them that afternoon I went to the 
"raising. There I found about one hundred men and boys from 
the surrounding country. They were down from Canoe Camp, 
Covington, Elk Run, from Corey Greek, Lambs Creek, Mill Creek, , 
Mainesburg, Roseville, and West Richmond. The frame was a 
heavy one, and the work of putting the siUs on the foundation had 
just commenced as I arrived. Old men, soldiers of the revolution 
and the war of 1812 were there, some in active duty, and some 
counseUing and advising the younger and more stalwart nen. 



94 

Boys were there taking lessons, handling pins, braces, chains and 
pike poles, putting them in place ready for use by the men. A 
number of women and girls were there, too, or rather at the house 
near by, cooking venison, mutton, chickens and otherwise assist- 
ing in preparing a great feast for the men after the barn should 
have been raised. Rude long tables were made of pine boards 
supported by benches in the shade of a huge buttonwood tree, 
while baskets of dishes, knives and forks, table cloths and napkins 
were being overhauled and placed by wilhng and deft hands upon 
the table. Rapidly the frame takes shape under the combined 
efforts of the men, while the stentorian word of command was 
given by a man whose lungs were evidently in the most healthy 
condition. " He-o-heave, he-o-heave, away, heave away !" re- 
sounded up and down the valley and inspired the men to renewed 
and concerted action. At length the frame was raised, the pur- 
loins and rafters put in place and stay-lathed. It had been a 
laborious and exciting work. No sooner had the last rafter been 
put in place, when the supper horn was blowed. But before its 
summons could be attended to the building must be christened and 
this must be done by one selected for the purpose, who mounted 
to the northeast corner of the upright port on the plate, and deliv- 
ered a speech, thanking the people for their assistance and con- 
cluding by pronouncing the name, 'Cornucopia,' the horn of 
plenty. This being done the multitude assembled at the tables. 
The minister of the place was given the seat of honor at the head 
of table, flanked by soldiers of the revolution and the war of 1S12, 
while along down the Ime were farmers, merchants, manufactur- 
ers, laborers and boyp. Grace was said with all due reverence and 
the feast was commenced. Liquor had been passed at intervals 
during the afternoon, but to the credit of those pioneers be it said, 
none were intoxicated. They had assembled to assist their neigh- 
bor and in extending that courtesy then so prevalent among the 
pioneers forty-five years ago. There was a mutual dependence 
upon each other that does not exist at the present day and hence 
the indifference of the present generation to those neighborly acts 
which were a distinguishing trait in the character of the early and 
pioneer settler." 

"Uncle Jonas, allow me to introduce you to Frank W. Clark, 
one of Mansfield's prominent lawyers. Mr. Clark is a democrat, 
but liberal and broad minded in his views." "Happy to welcome 
you Mr. Lawi-ence to our borough; I hope will enjoy yourself dur- 
ing your visit." "Thank you, Mr. Clark. I am very much in- 
terested in your thriving and prosperous village. " ' 'Mr. Lawrence, 
let me introduce J. M. Clark, a brother of mine, who is a merchant 
here. We are sons of Ehjah P. Clark." "Ah, Mr. Clark, I knew 
your father and grandfather well. Your grandfather was Elijah 
Clark, a native of Massachusetts, and lived for many yeai-s a few 
miles north of here, near Lamb's Creek, did he not ?" "Yes, sir, 
and he died January, 5, 18G4, aged eighty-one. My father, Ehjah 
Pinchen Clark, died a short time since, aged about seventy-eight 
years. I knew them well, Mr. Clark. It is thus the old lankmarks 
are fading out and passing away." 

"Uncle Jonas, we have an hour or more at our disposal, sup- 



Sose we go out Wellsboro street to the Tioga river. This burnt 
istrict and where this new building is being erected, was the 
former site of Straight & Kohler's hardware store." 

"This cut, Harry, was thought in 1840, when they were con- 
structing the raih'oad, to be one of the heaviest on the road. It 
was deemed then a great undertaking. With modern apphances 
and machinery it would now be deemed a mere trifle." 

"Down yonder, Uncle Jonas, where you see those glass cases, 
are the market and floral garden of Robert Crossley. You should 
have seen it two months ago. It would have convinced you that 
the west is not the only place where vegetables can be raised to 
advantage. I wished we had time to call on Dr. Joseph P. Morris. 
He purchased in 1850 what was termed the town plat of Mansfisld. 
He came from Philadelphia to Blossburg in the year 1835, and was 
interested in the Morris Run lands. He subsequently resided at 
Wellsboro and married Miss Sarah E., daughter of the Hon. Sam- 
uel W. Morris, one of the most prominent early settlers of that 
borough. In 1853 he came here to Mansfield, where he has since 
resided. He was prominently associated with a company who 
erected the furnace hitherto spoken of in the year 1854. Has been 
a trustee of the State Normal school, and every enterprise calcu- 
lated to benefit Mansfield he has done well his part, That new 
building belongs to Thomas H. Bailey, one of Mansfield's energetic 
men. Mr. Bailey is president of the Smythe Park association. 
Near him is the residence of Burt Schrader, another active busi- 
ness man. That gentleman you see with a white hat walking 
across the track, is William H. Kinney, the active station agent at 
Mansfield, and also the general passenger and freight agent for the 
Tioga branch of the Erie. Mr. Kinney has been in the employ of 
the company for nearly ten years here at Mansfield, and is one of 
the most efficient officials of the road. That gentleman going from 
the freight depot is Andrew Sherwood, the geologist, a gentleman 
who has been connected with the second geological survey of 
Pennsylvania, He has rendered great service to the state by his 
untiring and intelligent work. He is now engaged in the milling 
business in the northern portion of the borough. That fine farm 
you see on the west side of the river yonder in the northwest is 
called the 'Sherwood farm.' Its former owner was the Hon. 
Daniel L, Sherwood, a prominent citizen of Mansfield and Tioga 
county. He was born in Marathon, N. Y,, December 5, 180y, and 
came to Mansfield in the year 1830. In the years 1842 and 1843 he 
was elected to the popular branch of the state legislature. In the 
years 1844, 1845 and 1846 he was elected senator in the district 
composed of Tioga and Bradford counties, and in 1846 was chosen 
speaker of the senate of Pennsylvania. He was an ardent demo- 
crat. He removed to Northumberland county. Pa., in the year 
1869, and served two terms of two years each in the legislature, 
representing that county in the years 1877 to 1880 inclusive. The 
farm that you see further to the north, where that wind-miU is in 
operation, is owned by L. H. Shattuck, the old superintendent of 
this road. Mr. Shattuck, for thirty-two consecutive years wag 
the superintendent of this road and voluntarily retned from that 
position. He is a gentleman highly respected for his impai-tiality 



96 

and kindly treatment of those employes who came in contact with 
him in the management and working of the several departments 
of labor connected with the road. That gentleman, Uncle Jonas, 
who passed by here a moment ago, wearing spectacles, was Joseph 
S. Hoard, Jr., a young man of rare business qualifications. His 
father. Colonel Joseph S. Hoard, was a former prominent citizen 
of Mansfield. He came to Mansfield in the year 1844. Ten years 
later he was prominently connected with the establishment of the 
State Normal School, and with the erection of a blast furnace. 
When the rebellion occurred he enlisted and was finally promoted 
to the several intermediate grades until he reached that of lieuten- 
ant-colonel. He died a few years since in Florida. Uncle Jonas, 
suppose we go around on to Main street again. I want to call on 
my friend M. L. Clark, who for many years has officiated as the 
viilage postmaster with more than ordinary satisfaction to the 
public." 

•'Very well, Harry." "That gentleman going into the bank is 
Mr. Charles Kingsley, a tanner, one of Mansfield's prominent citi- 
zens. This gentleman that we are about to meet is Fenton Allen, 
son of Almon Allen, one of the pioneers of this place, and brother 
of the late Professor Fordyce A. Allen." 



TIOGA AND ITS ENVIRONS. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS BUSINESS ADVANTAGES — THE KETURN TO ELMIRA. 

The train. Uncle Jonas, is reported half an hour late. Tiiat wiU 
enable us to get an early supper before leaving Mansfield, and have 
ample time to go to the depot. I must agam repeat that I am 
pleased with my visit to Mansfield. There are some old settlers 
whom we have not called on or talked about. But that wfil always 
be the case. 

' 'As we go down the road to-night we will pass through Kelley- 
town and Lamb's creek. Gad Lamb was the first setuier at tne 
latter named point. He arrived there July 4, 1797. At this place 
(Mansfield) he found Benjamin Corey located in his bark caoin. 
The creek yonder, Corey creek, is named in his honor. We have 
neglected to call on Lorin Butts, who lives in the southern portion 
of the borough, and upon the Jeralds, who live on Corey creek, 
east of here, and many others whose names, however, I have 
mentioned. Ten years ago. Uncle Jonas, I called on Lorm Lamb, 
who then resided in this place, and who was an old man tfien, but 
his mind was fresh and active. He gave me . an account of his 
father's coming to Pennsylvania in 1797, and related many inci- 
dents connected with the early settlement of this valley and Tioga 
county. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the year 
1789, and recollected well the trip from that state to Mansfield in 
1797. His father, Gad Lamb, was born in Wilbraham, near Spring- 
field, Massachusetts, November 20th, 1744, and was married Janu- 
ary 7th, 1779, to Miss Jerusha Eipley, of Windham, Connecticut. 
Their children were Daniel, Harry, Sally, Patty, Jerusha, Lorain 



■ 97 

Nancy, Clarissa, Maria and Ebenezer. An old settler, Harry, of 
the name of Ripley, with whom I was acquainted, lived at Lamb's 
creek. His name was Ebenezer Eipley. He had been an officer in 
the revolutionary war— major, I think. He settled at Lamb's 
creek about the year 1S17 and was a brother-in-law of Gad Lamb, 
Jerusha, wife of Gad Lamb, being his sister. He died April 30th, 
1849, aged eighty-three years. With his son, William C. -Ripley, I 
was also acquainted. I frequently saw him in Elmira and at his 
home at Lamb's creek. The family were from Cooperstown, 
Otsego county. New York, but formerly of New England origin' 
I am told that William C. Ripley is still living at the advanced age 
of eighty-eight. The Cochrans were old residents at Lamb's creek 
— John and Abner. They were from Bennington, Ver^iont, and 
came into this valley in the year 1816. John died in the year 1877, 
aged ninet3veight years, seven months and fourteen days. His 
brother Abner died the same year, aged eighty-eight years. One 
of their descendants is a celebrated Methodist minister, and has 
been a presiding elder. 

' 'David Corbett was an early settler on Lamb's creek. He set- 
tled on Lamb's creek in the year 1830 and made the first clearing 
on that stream. In 1831, Michael Fralic, from Marathon, N. Y., 
settled at Lamb's creek, and for many years was a prominent citi- 
zen. His death occurred quite recently. His wife was Angelina, 
daughter of Daniel Lamb. His sons, Daniel and Henry Fralic. 
are energetic men engaged in farming and lumbering upon an 
extensive scale." 

"Our time is up, Uncle Jonas. Well, Mr. Earnest, you have 
made our visit pleasant, and in our travels about the country we 
may call on you again." 

"Thank you, gentlemen; I shall be pleased to entertain you 
whenever you call this way." 

"Uncle Jonas, there is one place that I would have been pleased 
to see. That is the elegant cemetery situated upon the hillside 
east of the railroad, a few rods north of here. You can always 
judge of the character of a community by the manner in which it 
cares for the city of the dead. There is no better standard. If 
you visit a cemetery that is overgrown with weeds and briars, the 
fence and walks neglected, the grave-stones or monuments moss- 
covered and out of place, you can safely conclude that the com- 
munity is a shiftless, careless, thoughtless and irreverent people. 
The people of Mansfield take gi-eat care of their cemetery. It is 
not a gloomy, ciieerless s[)ot, and robs death, the grim monster, of 
much of his terrors by the loving care and watchfulness exercised 
by the men and women of the borough.'' 

"Harry, I have been thinking that we might as well spend the 
week in this valley. This is only Friday night. Suppose we go 
to Tioga tonight, look over the village 'to-morrow, and take the 
afternoon train." 

"Suit yourself. Uncle Jonas." 

"Buy tickets, then, for Tioga, Harry. Yonder comes the train." 

"Good evening, Mr. Shattuck ! We are going only to Tioga 
to-night, and will go down to Elmira to-morrow afternoon on the 
freight. I want to cross over the mountain and descend into the 
valley of the Chemung by daylight." 



98 

"I know that the freight train is a slow train, but then it gives 
me time to look about me and observe the country." "That is 
true, gentlemen. I suppose, Mr. Lawrence, that you and your 
nephew, Mr. Sampson, have had a good time this week." 

"We are passing now the residence of the late James R. Wilson, 
for many years president of the Corning and Blossburg railroad. 
He was a native of New Jersey; born in the year 1807, and a gradu- 
ate of Princeton college. He studied law and was admitted to 
practice, but being interested in the mines at Blossburg and in the 
Corning and Blossburg railroad, he came into the valley about the 
year 1838, and assisted in the construction of the railroad and be- 
came its president. He was also prominently connected with the 
enterprise of relaying the track with T iron in the year 1852. He 
was polished in manners, refined in his taste, considerate of the 
rights of those with whom he had intercourse, warm-hearted, 
benevolent and kind, a friend to the poor, an efficient officer and 
an obliging neighbor. He was familiarly known as "President 
Wilson." The last time I saw him, Uncle Jonas, was at the 
funeral of the Hon. John Magee, which occurred April 7th, 1868. 
President Wilson attended the funeral which was held at Watkins, 
N. Y. A strong tie of friendship existed between President Wil- 
son and Mr. Magee, and Mr. Wilson was nearly overcome with 
gi-ief . He wept like a child, thus manifesting that kind sympathy, 
which was one of the distinguishing traits in his character. Presi- 
dent Wilson died December 24th, 1871, aged sixty-five years. He 
and his wife, Margaret Smith Wilson, were among the founders of 
St. James Episcopal church at Mansfield, Mr. Wilson being its first 
senior warden." 

"Where, Harry, did the Rev. Asa Donaldson reside?" "We 
have passed his old homestead. It was situated on the west side 
of the Tioga river, near the farm of Levi H, Shattuck. I remem- 
ber Mr. Donaldson well. He was one of the pioneer ministers of 
this valley. I was acquainted with him before he came to Penn- 
sylvania. He was born in Massachusetts, September 4th, 1788, and 
subsequently settled in Otsego county, N. Y., about the year 1805 
and studied for the ministry, and was licensed to preach in the 
year 1811. He was for several years stationed at Guilford, Che- 
nango county. New York, and while residing there several times 
visited Elmira. He was a Presbyterian. Over a half century ago 
he came to Tioga county. Pa., locating temporarily at Lawi-ence- 
ville and Tioga. In the Rev, Asa Donaldson, the pioneer of this 
valley found a friend. One that did by his amiable character and 
'example lead them to high and noble aspirations. He guided with 
..a steady hand their actions to a great extent, and taught them 
scriptural truths, the amenities and civilities of a Christian com- 
munity. He was aided largely by his accomplished and amiable 
wife. He raised a large and respectable family, who have honored 
his memory by becoming useful and influential men and women. 
His death occurred in the centennial year, in the state of Iowa, 
and his remains were buried in my adopted state, Illinois, at Mai- 
den, beside his deceased wife." 

" Here we are at Tioga. We will take the Park hotel omnibus, 
Uncle Jonas, and go and call upon Mr. Cole, the hospitable land- 



lord.— This, Mr. Cole, is Uncle Jonas Lawrence, come to spend the 
night in your well kept hotel." "Good evening, Uncle Jonas, glad 
to receive you as a guest." 

A pleasant room is assigned them, warm, comfortable, cosy and 
v*^ell-furnished. Here they spend the night, and after breakfast 
next morning, Uncle Jonas and Harry take a walk around in that 
beautiful village, discussing old times, old settlers and the present 
inhabitants. Among the many citizens whom they meet is that 
genial, warm hearted and companionable gentleman, the Hon. 
Thomas L. Baldwin, who for two terms represented Tioga county 
in the assembly of the state, and who for many years was the 
leading merchant in this village. Time has dealt kindly with him, 
and, although Mr. Baldwin has met with many reverses by fires 
and financial misfortunes, yet he is the same courteous gentleman 
as of yore. There is no acidity in his manner or conversation, but 
meets his present customers and old triends with affability and 
pohteness. A child, or an old and infirm person receives the same 
kind attention in his store as those who are in the health and vigor 
of ripe manhood, or in affluent circumstances. He never lost a 
friend by any act of his, but has gained thousands by his uniform 
courtesy. His ancestry in America dates back to its early settle- 
ment. They meet and converse with the Hon. Frederic E. Smith, 
a distinguished lawyer and prominent citizen, with Dr. R. B. 
Smith, Jacob Schiefilein, S. M. Geer, W. T. Urell, Colonel Gabriel 
T. narrower, Dr. Barden, Frank Adams, Jabin Bush, E. P. H. 
McAUister, T. L. Baldwin, Philo Tuller, O. B. Lowell, T. A. 
Wickham, E. A. Srnead, C. B. Farr, H. E. Smith, Paul Kraiss and 
many others conversed in regard to the Jesse Losev family, the 
Roberts family and the famihes and pioneers, the Mitchells, the 
Ives, the Adams, Kiphart, Berry, Jennings, Spencer, Niles, Willard, 
Millard, Bush, Elliott, Prutsman, Guernsey, Bentley, Inscho, 
Hotchkiss, Baldwin, Depui, Daily, Lawrence, Goodrich, Caulking, 
Vail, Allen, Westbrook, Welsh, Garretson, Mayord, Bigelow, 
Wickham, Farr, Seymour, Tuttle, Warren, Schiefflein, Hathaway, 
Duvey, Daggett, Bishop and many others, spending one of the 
most pleasant and agreeable forenoons in many days. They ad- 
mu-ed the streets, the neat and costly dwellings, the fine churches, 
the substantial business places, visited Bush's park, the coke ovens, 
of which we shall refer to again, when we again visit Tioga via the 
Fall Brook railroad." 

Uncle Jonas became intensely interested in recalling the old fam- 
ines named and speaking of their many distinguished traits of 
character, their social relations, their pioneer hardships, their 
sports of the field and forest, and concluded by saying : 

"Harry, lam more surprised at the change witnessed here by 
viewing this beautiful village than I would have been had a great 
and populous city been found here. Here is a beautiful village, 
with wide and shady streets, elegant homes, neat churches and 
schools, provided with water works, with ample railroad facilities, 
one railroad traversing the eastern boundary and another her wes- 
tern, leading south to Philadelphia, and north and eastward to 
New York and westward to Buffalo and Chicago, with a soil as fer- 
tile as a garden, with landscape and mountain scenery, grand in 



100 

the extreme. Surely, Harry, it is a great surprise to me that Tioga, 
with all these natural and acquired facilities, has not been seized 
by the hand of industry and made the center of a large poj^ulation 
engaged in manufacturing and varied industrial pursuits. She } et 
will be spied out and the hum of machinery will be heard in this 
rural borough now so serenely sitting on the banks of the Tioga 
crooked creek and the Elkhoru in the shade of these mountains, 
now covered so magnificently with the autumn foliage of the for- 
est trees." 

" One lucky capitalist and manufacturer will yet locate at this 
point and will be followed by others in quick succession. Fortun- 
ate indeed is he who is the pioneer in this industrial enterprise. 
Northern Pennsylvania and southern New York, within a radius 
of seventy-five miles, will in the next half century become one 
great workshop. The position it holds geographically and her jux- 
taposition it bears to the forests of timber, coal, iron and glass ma- 
terial will accomplish it. The child is living to-day who will wit- 
ness it. Already is the foundation laid for such an achievement, 
and year by year will labor, capital and enterprise, rear the super- 
structure. I saw Chicago, Harry, forty years ago, the germs of a 
great city, and plead with and imjDlored my eastern friends to go 
thither and invest. Some went, but many lost the golden oppor- 
tunity. One million souls now inhabit the spot, where forty years 
ago there were not then sixty thousand people, and perhaps to-day 
in this little borough, far-seeing individuals, without capital, are 
pleading with their friends to come hither and invest, who will 
turn a deaf ear to their solicitations, but who five or ten years 
hence, will be mourning over lost opportunities and golden chances 
and sighing over " what might have been." 

It was dinner hour when Uncle Jonas had finished his remarks, 
and he and Harry entered Park hotel and passed into the elegant 
dining room of Mr. Coles. 

Dinner being over Uncle Jonas and Harry leisurely prepare for 
the train that would take them to Elmira. On their way from the 
hotel to the depot, they had an opportunity of viewing the hillside 
park so admirably and elegantly fitted up by the late Hon. A. C. 
Bush, and during his lifetime kept in such a tasty and attractive 
condition, provided with so many conveniences and amusiug ap- 
pliances, where people by the thousand could assemble, promenade 
its shady groves, recline in its easy chairs, enjoy music and danc- 
ing in its halls, lunches and sumptuous dinners in its spacious din- 
ing rooms, siestas in its arbors, refreshing draughts of clear spring 
water, without charge or fee. Where patriot anniversaries were 
helc', where Sunday school picnics, family gatherings, church par- 
ties, temperance meetings, religious or other services were held, 
reflecting upon the generous mind that conceived, and the benevo- 
lent hand that furnished all these things for the amusement, 
gratification and convenience of all who chose to enter its limits 
and conduct themselves with decency and propriety. When Harry 
had described to Uncle Jonas the beauty of the park, the com- 
manding view it gave of the valley of the Tioga, to those who 
chose to enter its domain and cast their eyes over the landscape 
spread out before them. It made a great impression upon the mind 



101 

of the old gentleman, and recalled the sturdy jDioneer and active 
business man, who more than fifty years ago left the banks of the 
Chenango and made a liome on the banks of the Tioga, another 
branch of that grand old river, the Susquehanna, of his struggles 
in the vocation of lumberman, merchant and farmer, and his ripe 
old age, blessed with wealth and affluence, and a heart o erflowing 
with kindness towards his fellow man, made the name of Asa C. 
Bush doubly dear to him. For a few moments they walked in 
silence. At length Uncle Jonas said: "Harry, I do not believe 
in prodigality or spending one's substance in riotous living or 
erecting costly dwellings for the gratification of a desire to do some- 
thing to excel neighbor or overshadow his less expensive edifice; 
but I do beheve that my old friend, A. C. Bush, set an example 
which it would be well for men of wealth to imitate. When for- 
tune has smiled upon them, when they have secured a competency 
for themselves and those in their care, that it is their duty to pro- 
vide as far as it is within their power facilities for their less favor- 
ed friends and the public generally, some way whereby they can 
be amused, their reasonable desires gratified, their spirits enhven- 
ed, their courage renewed, or the sorrows, griefs and disappoint- 
ments allayed by retiring to a spot like Bush's park or in some 
central hall, hbrary, museum, drive or walk, enlivened by music, 
while away a few hours, leaving behind them their burdens and 
gathering strength for the future battles of life. I do not beheve 
that well-directed charity lessens the independence of manhood, 
but on the contrary, strengthens mankind and stimulates them to 
greater exertions. Very many men, Harry, I have seen in a great 
financial strait when it only took a few encouraging words and a 
little substantial aid to tide them over the threatened rock of dis- 
aster, and they sailed on thereafter with greater prudence and re- 
newed effort, coming out of the difficulty victorious and acquiring 
a position w^hich enabled them, to not only take care of themselves 
but assist their neighbor wiio was on the jDoint of being stranded! 
Yonder comes the train, Harry. Buy the tickets and we will board 
it when it arrives." 
"All aboard!" 

When the conductor, Michael Clauhesey, comes to gather the 
tickets, Harry introduces Uncle Jonas to him and makes an ar- 
rangement to telegraph to R. B. Cable, the superintendent of the 
road, to get permission to ride on the engine from Tioga junction 
to the Summit, in order that they may improve the time while the 
train is running from Tioga junction to Lawrence vilie, in looking 
around, and perhaps walking down to the next station east of the 
summit in order to catch a view of the valley of the Chemung. 
Permission being granted. Uncle Jonas is introduced to John 
Keating, who has charge of the train from Tioga junction, and to 
Wilham Wallace, the engineer of the "pusher," two old and ex- 
perienced railroad men. Being comfortably seated in the cab of 
the engine, the signal was given and the ascent began. The first 
exliaust showed the giant power of that iron horse. Up, up they 
go, the tireless engine exerting itself to its utmost capacity until 
the sunmiit is reached. Having left their baggage in the car at 
the foot of the mountain, Uncle Jonas and Harry determined to 



102 

walk about half a mile from the summit, and go out into the fields 
to the south of the railroad track, whence they would have a better 
view of the distant valley to the east. Arriving at the desired 
point, they stood and gazed upon the delightful landscape before 
them. Uncle Jonas, after a few minutes turned to Harry and 
said: "Each sovereign state, whether in the eastern or western 
hemisphere, claims 'the right of eminent domain.' All titles to 
land must originally come from them, reserving in their grants, in 
many instances the ownership of all precious minerals. They also 
reserve the right for all time to come to exercise jurisdiction over 
all territories or lands sold and conveyed. In time a multitude of 
persons inhabit these concessions or grants. Communities are the 
outgrowth, families are reared, children are born and grow to 
manhood and womanhood. However rude the dwelling in which 
these children are born and reared, and however rugged the coun- 
try in which they are surrounded, that dwelling, that country and 
its hills, mountains, rocks, rivers, lakes and streams, becomes 
their's not by purchase, but by association. Seventy-five years 
ago I was born in the valley of the Chemung. 'Tis there I was 
reared and educated. 'Tis there I spent my boyhood, youth, and 
early manhood. I became acquainted with its rivulets, cascades, 
rivers, plains, hills and mountains. They were impressed upon 
my mind, and became a portion of myself and my possessions. 
The valleys, hills and mountains have been been stripped of their 
forests to a great extent, but their outlines remain. The state ex- 
ercises a jurisdiction over them, the farmer cultivates the soil, the 
merchant has erected ware-houses, the citizen has built costly 
dwellings, the hand of industry has founded workshops, commerce 
has dug canals, constructed railroads, science and art have com- 
bined to make it beautiful, religion and education have built 
churches, schools and colleges, and although in law there is not a 
foot of land in that whole region I can hold, yet originally all that 
territory was mine, is mine now, because it was my heritage, and 
remains not only my heritage but the property of thousands of 
others like me, who were born there and reared there the same as 
I, and whose claim does not interfere with mine, nor mine with 
theirs. Children for generations to come will claim it as I claim 
it. With such a state of claims existing wiiat becomes oi the 
principles of eminent domain. It is such claims as those I make 
which create the love of home and country, begets patriotism and 
incites the soldier to defend with his life not only his fireside and 
family but his country. Often, Harry, I have sat in the union 
depot in Chicago and seen the tide of emigration flow in from Ger- 
many, Italy, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and 
the countries beyond the great ocean, and saw them hurried further 
onward towards the setting sun, have I pictured in my mind the 
na ive homes of those foreigners as they passed me, and wondered 
whether they carried with them as I did the memories of my child- 
hood home ? And I instinctively answered the question for them 
in the afiirmative. Then it was that I could tell why the images 
of the landscapes upon the Rhine, the sunny climes of France and 
Italy, the merry farms of England, the emerald shades of Erin, 
the rugged hills of Scotland and Switzerland were boldly outHned 



103 

in their faces, and mirrored their nationahty in every action. Each 
one, no doubt, held the memory of their native home in sacred 
remembrance, and however loyal they may be to the land of their 
adoption, yet close to their heart is their native land. So did I 
carry to my western adopted home the memories of the valley of 
the Chemung. And as I stand here upon this summit, overlook- 
ing that lovely valley, I cannot resist the impulse to revert to these- 
things and give voice to my thoughts." 

"The train will be due herein half an hour at the summit, Uncle 
Jonas, and we had better return to the depot." They return, take 
the cars and in due season are landed at the Erie depot at Elmira, 
and in a few minutes are at their homes on West Water street, 
pleased and delighted with their trip over the Tioga branch of the 
Erie into the valley of the Tioga and the Blossburg coal region. 

Next week they will go to Big Flats and Corning, and thence 
over the roads owned or leased by the Fall Brook coal company. 



THE EEIE EAILWAY. 



HISTORY OF THE GREAT ROAD — MEN CONNECTED WITH IT. 

Uncle Jonas and his faithful companion decided to rest for a 
short time in Elmira before resuming their pleasant wanderings. 
Among the many interesting topics considered by them during 
their breathing spell was the construction of the Erie railroad, now 
known as the New York, Lake Erie and Western, was discussed, 
and Harry gave Uncle Jonas a general history and description of 
this great trunk line, which for the past thirty-five years has been 
the pride of the inhabitants of the southern tier of New York. In 
doing that, Harry said : 

*' The New York and Erie railroad was chartered April 24, 1832, 
the proposed initial point being Piermont, on the Hudson, and the 
terminal point, Dunkirk, on Lake Erie. The road was opened 
from Piermont to Goshen in September, 1841; to Middletown in 
June, 1813; to Port Jervis in January, 1818; to Binghamton De- 
cember, 1848; to Elmira October, 1849; to Corning January, 1850, 
and completed to Dunkirk May 14, 1851, a little over nineteen 
years from the time it received its charter. The recitals of its 
trials and tribulations, its years of misfortunes and bankruptcies, 
its days of prosperity and adversity, would fill a volume. It was 
originally designed as a great trunk line from New York through 
the southern tier of counties, adjacent to the almost inexhaustible 
forests of timber, coal and iron of northern and northeastern Penn- 
sylvania and the rich and productive agricultural districts of 
Broome, Tioga, Chemung, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus and 
Chautauque counties in New York. No sooner had it been com- 
pleted than lateral branches were surveyed, located and constructed 
either by the company, or by other companies who desired to avail 
themselves of the facilities it afforded of rapid, safe and cheap 
ti'ansportation to New York in the east or Lake Erie in the west. 

Year by year have these branch roads been constructed until 



104 

now they extend north into central and northwestern New York, 
to Kochester and Buffalo and Newburg on the Hudson, and south- 
ward into the anthracite and semi-bituminous coal fields of Penn- 
sylvania, and the rich and productive oil fields of that state, thus 
making tributary to their trunk line railroads which bring to the 
main line millions of tons of coal and iron, millions of barrels of 
oil, immense quantities of lumber and bark, almost a countless 
number of passengers, and a freight traffic in agricultural and 
manufactured articles, which employ thousands of locomotives 
and many thousands of freight cars in moving this immense vol- 
ume of commodities which are seeking a market over their lines. 
This road has from time to time made connections with railroads 
reaching from its western terminus in New York which traverse 
the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, 
Minnesota, Missouri, and the south and west that delivers to it the 
grain, cattle, and other commodities of the west, and in return 
transports the goods and merchandise of the east to these remote 
and intermediate points in the west. Its freight traffic is not its 
only source of revenue. The passenger business is simply enor- 
mous. Nor is that line of business confined chiefly to those thou- 
sands of emigrants from the old countries, who fill its long trains, 
but the merchant, the mechanic, the citizen, the business man, the 
tourist and those who desire to spend a vacation in gazing at the 
many beautiful landscapes, the cities and towns that are located 
along its line. 

Before the Erie had completed to Dunkirk, it made arrangements 
whereby it ran into New Jersey to Jersey City, keeping open, how- 
ever, its original line from Suff reus to Piermont. For years, there- 
fore, the passenger going west departed from Twenty-third street, 
New York city, crossed the ferry into Jersey City, and at the latter 
point has taken a Pullman sleeper or elegantly upholstered pass- 
enger car, and the rate of forty miles per hour has been whirled 
through New Jersey up into the Catskill ranges of mountains, a 
portion of the eastern spurs of the Alleganies, which divides the 
waters of the Hudson, Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, passing 
through the great manufacturing city of Paterson, with its busy 
population of sixty thousand, and with tireless energy the locomo- 
tive has drawn him up into one of the grandest scenic localities of 
the middle states. He sees away up in the mountains the waters 
of the Delaware river, which flows southward until it reaches the 
populous city of Philadelphia with its million of inhabitants. He 
sees the lofty mountains in all their grandeur, the rippling stream, 
the dashing river, and the rocks, which for untold ages have held 
their place, unshaken and unmoved by the hand of time — the 
rugged forests, the plains and plateau, the land of milk and golden 
butter, and finally arrives at Binghamton, upon the Susquehanna, 
after having been crowded into Pennsylvania by the mountains of 
New York. At Binghamton a new and varied landscape is pre- 
sented to him. The wild and picturesque scenery of the Delaware 
is exchanged for a country rich in agricultural products, elegant 
farm houses and pleasing landscapes. Binghamton is a city, the 
offspring of the Erie, which reflects credit upon its foster parent, 
with its 25,000 inhabitants, its schools and churches, its asylums, 



105 

its manufactories, its grand hotels, its costly dwellings, its spirited 
and intelligent press, its enterprising merchants and its refined and 
cultured people. 

Leaving Bnighamton the traveler glides smoothly dov^n along 
the bank of the eastern branch of the Susquehanna, a valley made 
historic by the sturdy pioneers, who, nearly a hundred years ago, 
took possession by purchase of its then primeval forest and made 
their homes in the wilderness upon soil held dear by the red man 
of the six nations, passing through Owego, the county seat of Tioga 
county, with its 7,000 inhabitants, elegantly located ui)on the north 
shore of the beautiful east branch, with its many points of local 
and historical interest made memorable by its historian and orator, 
Judge Avery, and the classical scholar and poet N. P. Wilhs, the 
home of Colonel David Pixley, who distinguished himself at the 
siege of Quebec in 1775, under General Montgomery, and who was 
the pioneer settler in 1790, and thence onward, rolling swiftly 
through many varied and pleasant views, reaching Waverly near 
the great Indian gateway, which for a century was guarded and 
vigilantly watched by the red men, lest some pale-faced intruder 
from the south should ascend the north branch of the Susquehanna 
and trespass upon their hunting grounds along the valley of the 
Big Horn (Chemung). 

Leaving the east branch of the Susquehanna to unite its waters 
with those of the Chemung and thus form the north branch of the 
Susquehanna, the traveler is propelled northward up the valley of 
the Chemung, which at every revolution of the driving wheel con- 
tinues to open up into a wider and more fertile region, passing 
under the shadow of the Chemung monument, a memorial erected 
by the patriotic citizens of the Chemung and Wyoming valleys in 
the year 1879, to commemorate the victory won by General John 
Sullivan over the British, Tories and Indians, during the revolu- 
tionary war in August, 1779, a hundred years before; speeding 
away thi-ough rich and alluvial regions, over historic grounds to 
Elmira (Newtown Point), the scene of Indian treaties (Kaneweola) 
with the chiefs and warriors of the six nations, and now the site 
of the Queen city of the southern tier; thence northward along the 
beautiful valley, following nearly the old Indian pathway to Seneca 
lake for a distance of four or five miles from Elmira; then by a 
short curve wheeling westward through a broad and fertile valley 
to Big Flats, and thence westward to Corning in a valley unsur- 
passed in lovehness and rich in agricultural ]n-oducts. 

At Corning the passenger can diverge if he chooses from the 
main hue and ascend the Conhocton to Bath, a town founded in 
1793 by General Charles Williamson, agent for the Pultney estate 
of England, and in doing so will pass through one of the finest 
valleys of the upper waters of the Susquehanna and enter a section 
of country distinguished for its fertility, its neat villages, refined 
inhabitants, its fields of waving grain, its fiocks and herds, its vine- 
yards and orchards of delicious fruit, reaching Eochester, on the 
Genesee, with its one hundred thousand inhabitants, surrounded 
by a country rich in nurseries, flowers, fruits and cereals, and view 
the Genesee river as it tumbles over rocks and precipices, until it 
reaches Lake Ontario, a few miles distant; or he can continue on 



106 

the main line from Painted Post, a town whose annals are famous 
in Indian history, which modestly reclines upon the east bank of 
the Conhocton river, and thence up the valley to the westward to 
Addison on the Canisteo river, a tributary of the Chemung, and 
thence westward along the historic valley of the Canisteo to Hor- 
nellsville, the terminus of the Susquehanna division. 

At Hornellsville the traveler will find a large and populous incor- 
ported village, teeming with industrial and commercial pursuits, 
and he can either take the Buffalo division route up to Canaseraga, 
Dalton, Warsaw', Attica to Buffalo, or continue on the Western 
division to Wellsville, Cuba, Clean, Salamanca to Dunkirk, passing 
through the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua, 
and crossing the Genesee river, and touching the Allegheny river at 
Clean, which rises in the highlands of Potter county, Pennsylvania, 
and flowing northward into New York, thence westward and 
southward until it unites with the Monongahela at Pittsburg, Pa., 
to form the Ohio. He will be delighted on the passage by the 
varied and pleasing scenery. Here a busy and thriving village 
supported by an agricultural district, there a town engaged in manu- 
facturing, again another stimulated by the production of petroleum, 
huge tanks of oil in great numbers will be seen. He will also have 
an opportunity of seeing the red man upon his reservation in his 
semi-civilized state. He will also see hills, mountains and mead- 
ows, orchards, fields of waving grain in their season, elegant farm 
houses, capacious barns and manufacturing estal3lishments of 
every conceivable kind. He will also see miniature railroads, 
ascending a grade of 150 feet to the mile, with a three-foot guage, 
winding around the face of the hills, crossing ravines and scaling 
heights not attainable by the standard guage locomotives. He will 
also see pumping stations for forcing petroleum through pipe lines 
to near and distant places, and a thousand and one things, Uncle 
Jonas, which I will not task your patience to relate. It takes an 
army of men to conduct the affairs of this grand old Erie and all of 
its branches. I will only attempt to name its principal officials to- 
day, but before you leave for the west Ave will take a trip over the 
Susquehanna division from Susquehanna to Hornellsville, and talk 
over matters of interest, and become personally acquainted with 
many of its subordinate officials and visit the princijDal cities and 
towns along its line. 

John King is president of the Erie company; S. M. Felton, jr., 
vice-president; Charles Paine, second vice-president; James A. 
Buchanan, attorney; A. R. MacDonough, secretary; Edward 
White, treasurer; B. Thomas, general superintendent; F. M. 
Wilder, superintendent of motive power; H. D. Blunden, engineer 
maintenance of way; W. G. Fuller, purchasing agent; Stephen 
Little, controller; A. J. McDowell, auditor; John N. Abbott, gen- 
eral ticket and passenger agent; John Hammond, general freight 
agent; J. M. Drill, division freight agent, Jersey city; William C. 
Buck, division freight agent, Elmira, N. Y. ; J. M. Horton, division 
freight agent, Rochester, N. Y. ; J. Deuell, division freight agent, 
Buifalo, N. Y. ; E. G. Hill, superintendent eastern division, Jersey 
City; E. Van Etten, superintendent Delaware division. Port Jervis; 
R. B. Cable, superintendent Susquehanna division and Tioga branch, 



107 

Elmira, N. Y. ; W. J. Murphy, superintendent Buffalo division^ 
Buffalo, N. Y., also superintendent Rochester division; W. B. 
Coffin, superintendent Western division, Hornellsville, N. Y. ; C, 
A. Brunn, superintendent Buffalo and Southwestern division, 
Buffalo, N. Y. ; D. H. Blackham, superintendent transportation. 

' 'No, one, Uncle Jonas, can properly estimate the benefits which 
the construction of the Erie railroad has conferred upon the people 
of the city of New York, the southern tier counties of the state, 
and the northern tier of Pennsylvania, and the great west. Cities 
and towns have sprung up along its line, in-iustrial establishments 
have been constructed, mines have been opened, wells of petroleum 
have been sunk, agriculture promoted and the country developed, 
waste places made fertile and fruitful, schools, colleges, churches, 
asylums, established directly and indirectly by its developing influ- 
ence. It has been a great promoter of punctuality in the business 
affairs of life. Until the Erie was constructed we had no standard 
time in southern New York which we were compelled to observe. 
Under the old stage coach regime a great allowance was made for 
the variation of time, a half hour being considered of no conse- 
quence. When the Erie put forth its first time table or schedule 
of arrival and departure of trains, the business man, traveler and 
laboring man entered upon a new era. It taught lessons of punc- 
tuahty in business, in the hours of labor, and generally impressed 
the people of the necessity of being on time. Before this there was 
a general go-as-you-please programme. Each business man or manu- 
facturer had a different schedule of time by which they regulated 
the business hours or hours of labor, while some had no fixed 
hours and adopted the rule of working from daylight till dark, 
regardless of whether the sun shone eight or fifteen hours per day. 
All these things were in time remedied. The tardy traveler, male 
or female, was left in the depot to ponder over their lack of punc- 
tuality, the incorrectness of their chronometers, or to use the king's 
Enghsh in an ungrammatical style, for being only five minutes 
behind schedule time. Uniform time has thus. Uncle Jonas, 
taught the people lessons of punctuahty, unknown before the era 
of railroads. 

''To-morrow, Uncle Jonas, we will take a short ride over the 
Erie to Big Flats and Corning, when you can have an opportunity 
of riding on this grand old pioneer railroad, the first to enter the 
vaUey of the Chemung." 



IN CHEMUNG COUNTY. 



A VISIT TO BIG FLATS— THE FARMING AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY. 

"Good morning, Uncle Jonas. I hope my long talk about the 
Erie and its branches did not fatigue you ?" 

"Oh, no, Harry, I am never better pleased than when I am lis- 
tening to the recital of the history connected with the construction 
of a great thoroughfare like the Erie." 

"I have arranged it, Uncle Jonas, that we take a way train this 



108 

afternoon on the Erie at 1:10 and go up to Big Flats and remain 
there over night. It will give you an opportunity of meeting some 
of the descendants of your old friends in that town and village." 

"Very well, Harry, I will be ready in time. Your remarks 
upon time, yesterday, impressed me very much. I never thought 
before of giving the railroads of the country credit for the uni- 
formity of time, and lessons of punctuality which they enforce 
upon the business man, laboring man, traveller and the commun- 
ity in general. Upon reflection, your remarks are reasonable and 
remind me of the miscellaneous way in which time was observed 
before the era of railroads." 

"This is our train, Uncle Jonas. Here is your ticket, uncle. 
Now for Big Flats. What a comfortable seat; and smoothly and 
swiftly we glide along. Here we are at West Junction; we will 
soon be in the town of Big Flats. Perhaps I have told you when 
the town of Big Flats was organized; if not, I will now. It was 
organized by an act of the legislature April 16, 1822, session forty- 
five, as will be seen by chapter 121 of that year, taken from Elmira. 
I recollect well when it was organized and what was said about it 
in Elmira. The legislature convened that year on the first day of 
January and adjourned on the seventeenth day of April, the next 
day after the bill was passed for its organization. The Hon. Jared 
Patchen represented Tioga county in the assembly and the Hon. 
Gamaliel H. Barstow in the senate. Chemung had not then been 
formed. But, Harry, I do not wish to recall or revive the memory 
of old feuds, and will therefore desist from further explanation. 
Here we are at the town line. The early settlers in this vicinity 
were Nathan Sp^unders, Eoswell Goff, Jr., son of the Rev. Roswell 
Goff, Comfort Bennett and his sons George, Horace, Daniel, Mor- 
ris and Andrew J., Peter Mead, Benjamin Whitney, Calvin Hawk- 
ins, Isaac Manning, Abram Scofield, John C. Scofield, Daniel Sco- 
field, John F. Delaney, Jonathan Kent, George Shilver, Joseph 
Rowley, Noah Hawley, John Bennett, Ebenezer Snow, John Goff, 
John Brown, Usual Goble, Cornelius Low, Gershom Livesay, 
Hezekiah Mead, Aries Hodge and others whose names escajDe me 
now. They resided in that portion of Big Flats known as Sing- 
Sing. On the left of us was Eleazer Owen, Clark Winans, Henry 
Farr, father of Valentine, John, W. H., and James E. Farr, Aaron 
Cook, Judah Mead, Ira Mead and John Mead, sons of Hezekiah 
Mead, Colonel Van Valen, Salmon Beard, Salmon Rowley, Doctor 
Thesus Brooks, John Winters, William Miller, Robert Miller. 
Robert Miller owned the farm east of the village of Big Flats. 
North of the village were Frederic Vaughan, David Trumble 
Vaughn, Samuel Minier, John L. Sexton, William H. Reeder, 
James Jackson, better known as "Old Hickory," John White, 
John S. Miller, Joseph Deates and still further north up Gardiner 
creek and on Hooker's and Reeser's hill were Robert P. Owen, 
Cornelius Harrington, Michael Shea, Justus Luce, John Baker, 
Anthony Reeser, William Ellison, senior, William T. Hooker, 
Austin Hooker, Daniel Reeser, and northest from Big Flats were 
Giles AUard, Jacob Dorn, Ami Carrier, Lewis Pound, Henry Ful- 
ler, Darius Bennett, Telman N. Bennett, Ansel Carlton, Thomas 



109 

Buck, Henry Minier, Frederic Wolcott, Charles Frye, John Silsby, 
Joseph Pound, Hezekiah Beebe, James Farr, Paul W. Breed, and 
to the southeast of the village, on the river road to -Elmira, were 
John McNulty, Hezekiah Woodruff, Judson M. Park, Nathan 
Reynolds, Caleb L. Gardiner, David Reynolds, Levi Lovell, Reuben 

Lovell, Smith, Joseph Rhodes, Christian Minier, Joseph 

Parks, Simon Hawes, and across the river near the Elmira town- 
ship line, were Orson H. Fitch, Daniel K. Fitch, Colonel John 
Hendy, Jr. I declare, Harry, here we are at Big Flats station ! 
Where shall we go?" "0, we will go to the hotel erected by 
Charles Reynolds fifty years ago. There is no omnibus running to 
it, but we can walk down into the village." 

''The depot at this place. Uncle Jonas, is located upon the prem- 
ises formerly owned by your old friend John Winters, or "Pap 
Winters," as he was familiarly known. This school house was 
erected during the year 1854, during the official terra of John L. 
Sexton, Jr., as town superintendent of schools. There was con- 
siderable opposition, but the friends of education were in a major- 
ity, and the old red school house which stood near the road soutli- 
east of the village was abandoned. The grave-yard or its cemetery 
on the left has been enlarged, the original space given by the 
late Robert MiUer having been fully occupied. It is the oldest 
grave-yard in the town, the first interment occurring over eighty 
years ago. The church (Presbyterian) was erected about fifty- five 
years ago, and has since been remodeled in its interior. The 
church here to the left of us is the Episcopalian, and has been 
erected for about twelve or fourteen years. The Episcopalians 
erected a church west of the village over fifty years ago; but after 
using it for twenty years it was sold to the Baptist, and in the 
year 1852 it was removed to the village, remodeled and is now in 
use by that denomination. The Methodist church was erected in 
the year 1865. When we get to the hotel. Uncle Jonas, we will 
talk these matters over. They arrive at the hotel and are con- 
ducted into quiet rooms by the landlord, Mr. Relyea. After they 
were comfortably located Uncle Jonas said to Harry : "This hotel 
was erected about fifty years ago by Charles Reynolds, now de- 
ceased, father of S. T. Reynolds, of Elmira. Charlie Reynolds, as 
he was familiarly known, was one of the most enterprisiug and 
public spirited men in the country. When I was a young man, 
Harry, he was engaged in the mercantile pursuits, and in purchas- 
ing grain and shipping the same in arks to the southern market on 
the Chemung and Susquehanna rivers. His store stood on the op- 
posite side of the street from this hotel, a little farther to the east. 
When the Chemung river was high he was enabled to load his ark 
with graiu from his store, in that creek (Gardiner creek) and float 
it down through the meadows to the river. He built this hotel 
and the residence next to the west of us. Although he was so 
very energetic, still his health was not very good. Consumption 
had marked him as a victim, and he died in March, 1837, in the 
prime of life, and when he had surmounted all financial obstacles 
which stood in his way. John Minier soon thereafter leased or 
purchased it, and was keeping it when I left for the west in the 
year 1841. These old hotels are landmarks, not always the scenes 



110 

of debauchery, but the homes of the traveler, and the place where 
public and private business is transacted. That is very true, Uncle 
Jonas. Since you left this county, this hotel, upon the whole, has 
been specially well kept. Its landlords have been men of character 
and standing. I recall the names of John Minier, Captain William 
Dunn, William and George Edminster, Judson, M. Park, Water- 
man Park, Mrs. Mary Gardiner, Isaiah J. A. Jones, John Eelyea, 
I. P. Jones, A. S. Fuller, and the present occupant, John Eelyea, 
Jr. Until a few years since it had a room set apart as a " court 
room." In that room the justices' courts were held, as were also 
the town and state elections. There is a ball-room attached, and 
for many years, during the winter season, dancing schools were 
held. Those schools consisted of thirteen lessons, given once a 
week, usually ending by a pubhc exhibition of the progress made 
by the pupils in the terpsichorean art, at which invitations were 
extended by the master or teacher and pupils to their friends. 
These public dances generally called forth the elite of the viUage 
and surrounding country, and was an occasion upon which every 
lady and gentleman particularly placed themselves upon the order 
of their good behavior. The utmost order and decorum prevailed. 
No dissipation or vulgar language was tolerated either in the hall 
or about the house. The pupils were taught pohte manners and 
many accomplishments which fitted them for good society." 

"I have no doubt of it, Harry. I have always been in favor of 
schools of deportment and dancing, regarding them, if properly 
conducted, as being a healthy and innocent amusement, and well 
calculated to impart good manners to their pupils. Now, Harry, I 
want to talk about some of the business men here of forty-five 
years ago." 

"Well, Uncle Jonas, the first merchant here was John Huey, 
from Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He engaged in farming- 
west of here in the town of Corning, and was killed by the cars at 
Corning, September 1, 1854, aged sixty-three years. John M. 
French, another early merchant, removed from Big Flats to 
Rochester about the year 1838, and a few years since died there at 
an advanced age. He established a foundry and machine shop in 
that city. William A. Tuttle and Lauren A. Tuttle, who carried 
on business for many years here, are dead. Samuel C. Gibson is 
also dead. Your old friend, Benjamin Farwell, who for many 
years was engaged in the manufacture of furniture at this place, 
died recently at Painted Post, aged eighty-four years." 

" I know his son, Harry. He is a prominent merchant of Chi- 
cago." 

" Zachariah Clearwater, Moses Rumsey, Nelson Hotchkiss, Jacob 
Dorn, blacksmiths, are all dead. Lorenzo Brown, Captain David 
Brown, wagon makers, are still living, I believe — Captain David 
Brown in Elmira and Lorenzo Brown in Schuyler county. Dr. 
Thesus Brooks, for many years a resident of Big Flats, died in 
Elmira a number of years ago. Drs. Corbett Peebles, William 
Woodward and T. W. Reed are still residing here and practicing 
their profession. Dr. Peebles has resided in Big Flats over forty- 
five years, Dr. Woodward about forty-one yeai's and Dr. T. W. 
Read about thirty years. The Masonic lodge under the new dis- 



Ill 

pensation, Uncle Jonas, was chartered July llth, 1855, with Dr. 
Corbett Peebles as W. Master; George Wolcott, Senior Warden, 
and Ebenezer L. Hoffman, Junior Warden, You recollect you 
told me about your initiation at Captain Gardiner's in the lodge 
room in the garret. The lodge organized in 1855 before alluded to 
has upon the whole been exceedingly prosperous. It owns that 
large building known as the Town or Masonic hall, and has a very 
fine lodge room upon the second floor, well carpeted and furnished. 
It would give me great pleasure, Uncle Jonas, to enter more par- 
ticularly into its history, but there are so many things to tell you 
tliat I fear I cannot dwell upon the matter longer. Joel Eowley 
and his good wife " Aunt Becky" died many years ago at a ripe 
old age. Your friend John Minier, who married Emily Beard, 
daughter of Salmon Beard, is living here in the village and owns 
the George Gardiner farm and the house in which you were made 
a Free Mason. His son, Samuel A. Minier and John R. Minier are 
engaged extensively in the sale of merchandise at the store for- 
merly occupied by L. A. and W. A. Tuttle. The ancestors of John 
Minier, no doubt, were the earliest settlers in the Chemung vaUey, 
locating about halfway between this place and Elmira, on the 
"river road, "long before Colonel John Hendy settled at Newtown. 
I have. Uncle Jonas, been several years looking this matter up, 
examining records of Bradford county, Luzerne county and North- 
umberland county, in Pennsylvania, and the records in the land 
department at Harrisburg, and I have be. .ome thoroughly convinced 
that white men were in this valley long before the revolutionary 
war, and at the proper time I will give you my reasons for making 
this assertion." 

"Harry, Big Flats does not seem to have increased much in 
population in the last forty-five years, if I recollect aright." 

"That is true. Uncle Jonas. But the agricultural interest has 
been developed. Then there were few settlers on the hills north, 
south and east of here. Now there are splendid farms on Hawes' 
hill, on Hooker's and Reeser's hill, and south on the hills adjoining 
the town of Southport, in Chemung county, and number one, or 
Caton, in Steuben county. Then John L. Sexton had two or three 
miles on the creek where he settled fifty-five years ago and who 
was succeeded by. Paul W. Breed. John Silsby had a saw mill on 
the same creek ; several steam saw mills were subsequently in 
operation, one large gang mill on the island in the river, opposite 
the hotel, and all together employing- a great many men and teams, 
and creating active business operations. A very destructive fire 
occurred here here about twenty-five years ago, destroying some 
seventeen buildings on the south side of the street, among them the 
Charles Reynolds and John M. French stores, the owners of which 
were not generally insured, together with stores, halls, and dwell- 
ings which have not been rebuilt. A grist and saw mill, however, 
has taken their place. There was a time, however, when the now 
abandoned Chemung canal was in operation, and the building of 
the Erie railroad was in course of construction and the locks on the 
canal were being rebuilt, that business was brisk and money and 
work plenty. John Haggerty, son of your old friend Patrick 
Haggerty, was associated with Nicholas Mundy and Samuel Minier 



112 

in the sale of merchandise, the purchase of railroad ties and wood, 
and contractors for the rebuilding of twenty or thirty locks on the 
Chemung canal between Elmira and Watkins, and between Horse- 
heads and Corning about twenty- five years ago, with headquarters 
in Big Flats, made this one of the busiest little hamlets in the 
country. John Haggerty represented this county in the assembly 
of the state in the year 1858, and was a man of broad views and an 
intelligent and energetic business man. Samuel Minier was high 
sheriii in the county from 1841 to 1844, and member of assembly 
in the year 1851, a prominent farmer and business man. Haggerty 
and Mmier are dead. Nicholas Mundy is still living, and is one of 
the most prominent and extensive farmers in the southern tier 
counties of New York. He owns the homestead of his grandfather, 
Nathan Mundy, his father's, Eeuben M. Mundy, and has added to 
his inherited estate the Martin Hammond and Jonathan Boyei' 
farms, adjoining the Mundy estate, aggregating over 400 acres, of 
as line soil as there is in the state. You can perceive, therefore, 
Uncle Jonas, that the firm did not lack capital or energy. They 
invented and created business and when it dissolved and Haggerty 
went to Waterloo to get near the center of public works, Big Mats 
lost a valuable citizen, and his death a few years thereafter was a 
great public loss. The business of the people has changed. About 
thirty years ago the culture of tobacco was commenced at Big- 
Flats, the first successful effort in the Chemung vaUey. It has 
annually increased, until now there is scarcely a farmer in the 
town that is not engaged in its growth or indirectly interested in 
the business. From this point the cultivation extended up the 
rivers Chemung, Conhocton, Canisteo, Tioga and Cowanesque, and 
down the valley of the Chemung into the vaUey of the Wyoming 
in Pennsylvania, and along the valley of the east branch in Bing- 
hamton and up the Chenango as far north as Utica on the Mohawk, 
and westward into Onondaga counties. Big Flats was the pioneer 
tobacco growing town. Its cultivation in aU the sections I have 
named were subsequent to its first cultivation here in the year 
1850." 

" Curtis Elmer, from the state of Connecticut, raised the first 
crop of tobacco for the market upon the David Eeynolds farm on 
the banks of the Sing Sing creek at the lower end of the flats in 
the year 1850. This proving a success, Eeuben and Greorge W. 
LoveU and John Parks, in the year 1851, raised successfully several 
acres. Their success stimulated other farmers in the town to 
engage in its production, among whom were George W. Van 
Gorder, Orrin Wing, Hiram Hammond, John McNulty, David H» 
Bonham, James Hughson, Samuel Minier, John L. Sexton, jr., 
Nicholas Mundy, Archibald Gates, John Minier, Martin Hammond, 
and many others. Thus in a few years the industry spread wider 
and wider until it has covered the territory I have named. That 
is the supper bell. Uncle Jonas. We will go down into the dining 
room, the place where so many fine meals have been eaten in years 
gone past on private and public occasions. Many distinguished 
men have dined in this house, among whom I recall the Hon. 
Hiram Gray, the Hon. James Dunn, Hon. Amasa Dana, Hon. 
Andrew B. Dickinson, Hon. Alexander S. Diven, Hon. Eobert 



113 

Campbell, Hon. John Magee, Hon. Aaron Konkle, Hon. Andrew 
K. Gregg, Hon. Theodore North, Hon. C. C. B. Walker, Hon. 
Stephen T. Hayt, Hon. David B. Hill, Hon. Horace Greeley, Hon. 
Martin Grover, Hon. Thomas A. Johnson, Hon. James Hughson, 
Hon. Samuel Minier, Hon. George B. Gviinnip, Hon. John Hag- 
gerty, Hon. Samuel G. Hathaway, Hon. William C. Ehodes, Hon. 
James Woods, Hon. Joseph Darling, Hon. James Pumpelly, Hon. 
Francis Granger, Bishop Delancey and many others distinguished 
in public life and social position. I sat, Uncle Jonas, at the table 
in the dining room in October, 1852, with the Hon. Horace Greeley 
of New York, George W. Brown of Elmira, Judson M. Park, Lauren 
A. Tuttle, Nelson Hotchkiss of Big Flats, the Hon. A. B. Dickinson of 
Hornby, and the Hon. George W. Buck of Chemung. Mr. Greeley 
had made a speech at Corning on that day and was driven in the 
carriage of I.Ir. Brown, of Elmira, from Corning, accompanied by 
the Hon. A. B. Dickinson and the Hon. George W. Buck. Judson 
M. Park kept the hotel at that time and was a warm political and 
personal friend of Mr. Greeley. It so happened. Uncle Jonas, that 
I was here and with Messrs. Tuttle and Hotchkiss Vv^ere invited to 
dine with the party." 

" It is with a great deal of pleasure, Harry, that I visit these old 
landmarks and listen to your recital of their history." 

After partaking of a well-prepared supper. Uncle Jonas and 
Harry take a walk about the village. They first visit the former 
residence of Joel liowley and Captain George Gardiner, which they 
find altered and remodeled, and theji return and meet at the post- 
office, which is in the store of the Minier Brothers, many of th& 
present villagers and townsmen, among whom were Judge Am- 
brose, S. Fuller, George W. Lovell, Philander J. Brown, the Eev. 
C. L. Bacon, John L. Sexton, Dr. Corbett Peebles, Dr. William 
Woodward, Jacob Markle, Orlando Groom, E. W. Gardiner, Joseph 
Scofieid, John Farr, Simeon Wormley, Simeon Hughson, Martin 
Hammond, jr., Seeley Reeder, Patrick Elwood, David Quackenbush^ 
Charles Quackenbush, Abram B. Minier, Joseph B. Lowe, Jerome 
Allard, Nicholas Mundy, James E. Farr, W. H. Farr, John R. 
Minier, Samuel A, Minier, David Churcher, Charles Hammond and 
many otliors, and spent an hour or more in social conversation 
recalling old time scenes, talldng over hunting, fishing, barn rais- 
ing, lumbering, rafting and local incidents of the past. Through 
the courtesy of John K. Minier, Uncle Jonas and Harry were per- 
mitted to look through the masonic lodge j'ooms of Big Flats lodge 
number 378 of Free and Accepted Masons. Returning to the hotel 
they were introduced to a number of young men who had met to 
make arrangements for holiday amusement, and the evening passed 
off pleasantly and quickly. In the morning a fine team and car- 
riage was at their disposal and they took that opportunity of driv- 
ing up the river, passing the Rowley and Gardiner homesteads, the 
late residence of the Hon. James Hughson, the old homes of Pat- 
rick Haggerty, Jonathan and Samuel Boyer, Martin Hammond, 
the elegant present residence of Nicholas S. Mundy, driving out of 
the town of Big Flats into the county of Steuben near the present 
residence of A. J. Wormley, and the old home of his father, the 
late Jacob Wormley, and passing the residence of Lucius Tuttle, 



114 

John Storms, the old residence of John W. Durham, now the ele- 
gant home of John M. Burt, and viewing the residence of A. D. 
Huey, and the old residence of the pioneer merchant of Big Flats, 
the late John Huey, now occupied by his son Grant Huey, and on 
westward beyond the residence of Henry B. Noyes. After passing 
the residence of Mr. Noyes they turned about and were returning 
to Big Flats, when opposite his house they were met by him and 
invited into his hospitable home where they spent an hour J^talking 
over reminiscences and by-gones. Many were the pleasing and 
happy incidents recalled of his father, the late Thomas Noyes and 
his amiable wife. 

On their return to Big Flats, each one of the old residents of 
forty-five years ago, that hved along that beautiful highway were 
spoken of by Uncle Jonas, and dwelt upon with interest. From 
the feeling manner in which Uncle Jonas spoke of some of the old 
families along that route, Harry half suspected that at some time 
in Uncle Jonas' early life he might have been matrimoniaUy in- 
chned towards some of the fine daughters of those early settlers. 
Whether such was the case or not, it was certain, that no little 
trip had he taken with Uncle Jonas, which had seemingly given 
the old gentleman more delight than the one that mornmg. He 
dwelt upon the hospitality and culture of the Gardiners, the Rey- 
nolds, the Boyers, the Owens, the Mundys, the Hughsons, tlie 
Hueys, the Storms, the Wormleys, the Mmiers, the Beards, the 
McNultys, and early citizens generally of Big Flats. Surely they 
occupy a warm place in the old man's affections. 



CORNING'S HISTOEY. 



THE VETERAN TRAVELER VISITS HIS OLD FRIENDS AND RENEWS OLD 

ASSOCIATIONS. 

Uncle Jonas and Harry dine at the hotel and prepare to leave 
Big Flats. They are driven over to the depot by Mr. Relyea in 
time to take a west bound train on the Erie for Corning. Away 
they speed up through as delightful a valley as there is in the 
middle states. Before arriving at Corning, Harry said to Uncle 
Jonas : 

"I think while we remain in Corning we had better stop at the 
Dickinson house. The Dickinson house was erected in the years 
1850-51, and dedicated by a grand reception and baU September 
-24, 1851. The house was named in honor of the Hon. Andrew 
Bray Dickinson, whom you well recollect as a prominent farmer 
of Hornby, in Steuben county, and a distinguished Whig pohtician, 
who represented this district in the state senate and who was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln as Minister to Nicaraugua. The citi- 
zens of Corning at that time took a great interest m the erection 
of the hotel, and a committee consisting of its prominent business 
men sent out special invitations in all portions of the southern tier 
to their friends to be present at its formal opening and dedication. 
The committee of invitation were the Hon. Andrew Bray Dickinson^ 



115 

of Hornby, followed by citizens of Corning, Daniel D. Comstock, W 
W. Hayt, J. M. Hawley, Stephen T. Hayt, W. HalKday, Jason K.* 
Snooks, William M. Mallory, Dwight Atwater, George W. Dyer, 
William Irvine, J. Maynard, H. Turner, Hiram W. Bostwick' 
Charles C. B. Walker, Jacob Lansing, Alexander Olcott, J. m! 
Goodrich and A. J. Howell. Its reception and dedication will long 
be remembered as one of the great social events in this valley. 
Since its opening, nearly thirty-five years ago, it has entertained 
some of the most distinguished men in the country, those that have 
been prominent in civil, political and military life, as well as the 
travelers and citizens generally. For ten or twelve years after it 
was opened it had several landlords, among whom was the late 
Major ^A. Fields, who enlarged it. He was succeeded twenty years 
or more ago by D. A. Fuller, and he by his sons, George W. and 
Dwight L. Fuller, who, since 1865, have owned and controlled it, 
enlarging and refitting it from time to time, until it became one 
of the most noted hotels in southern New York. Its location ad- 
jacent to the Fall Brook depot, and within a square of the New 
York, Lake Erie & Western depot, and in the business center of 
Corning has contributed to its popularity. It has become historic 
as the place of holding senatorial and congressional conventions of 
all parties, and the place for holding railroad and other business 
meetings. If you think best. Uncle Jonas, we will make it our 
headquarters, while we talk over the history of Corning, the New 
York, Lake Erie & Western railroad, the Corning, Cowanesque & 
Antrim railroad, the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning railroad and 
other lines controlled and operated by the Fall Brook coal company 
and the surrounding country. Here we are at Corning. Here is 
the Dickinson house porter. Give him your check. Uncle Jonas. 
Here we are at the hotel. This, Uncle Jonas, is Mr. George W. 
Fuller, and this is Mr. Dwight L. Fuller. Gentlemen, we have 
come to your house to spend a few days, while we look up old ac- 
quaintances and talk over things of the past." 

"Happy to receive you, Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Sampson, and 
shall be glad to entertain you. Porter, show Uncle Jonas and 
Harry up to the double room upon the first floor above." 

"I declare, Harry, you have the good luck or faculty of 
selecting the very best hotels in the country. This easy chair just 
suits me, and the room is so warm and comfortable this wmter 
afternoon." 

"I am glad you are pleased with your quarters. Uncle Jonas, 
and I think we shall have no cause to regret our selection. I was 
speaking of the committee of invitation that dedicated this liouse 
when we arrived at the depot. To continue : They were probably 
unknown to you, with the exception of the Hon. Andrew B. Dick- 
inson; still you ought to remember William W. Hayt and Stephen 
T. Hayt." 

"Yes, Harry, I do." 

■'Daniel D. "Comstock was a business man. He came to Corning 
from the county of Otsego. Jason K. Snooks was also a business 
man, engaged in the manufacture of harness. William M. Mal- 
lory was a banker, second son of Laurin Mallory. Dwight Atwater 
was a lumber merchant and shipper, now^ a resident of Elmira. 



116 

George W. Dyer was an energetic and enterprising business man 
of Corning, who among other enterprises erected a block of stores 
and a hall known as the ' Dyer hall.' WiUiam Irvine was a learn- 
ed able and successful lawyer who represented this district in con- 
gress and distinguished himself during the rebellion, commanding 
a regiment of union soldiers, and who went to Cahfornia after the 
close of the war, and estabhshed a very lucrative law practice, and 
when in the zenith of his success, was taken suddenly ill and died 
a few years ago. He is interred in Woodlawn in Elmira; J. May- 
nard was a young lawyer; H. Turner was a merchant; Hiram W. 
Bostwick was a prominent citizen and banker, president of the 
bank of Corning; Charles C. B. Walker was engaged in the hard- 
ware business, has since represented this district in congress and is 
now known far and wide as a most successful business man; 
Jacob H. Lansmg was a jeweler and since distinguished himself in 
the late rebellion, and was clerk of Steuben county at the time of 
his death a few months since; Alexander Olcott was a prominent 
citizen engaged in the foundry and machine business, and who 
still resides here one of the sohd and substantial business men of 
to-day. This house, Uncle Jonas, stands upon the site of the first 
hotel erected here, known as the Corning house. Among the 
landlords who kex>t the Corning house I recall those of Major Den- 
ton, Samuel H. Maxwell, Nelson Somers and Marvin Clark. It 
was destroyed by fire and soon thereafter the house was erected. 
We are seated so comfortably, Uncle Jonas, suppose we remain in 
our room and I will give you a brief history of this enterprising 
village." 

"Very well, Harry, go on." 

"You will recollect, Uncle Jonas, that the Chemung canal feeder 
was constructed and finished to a point on the Chemung river 
about a mile below here in the year 1833. One of the great levers 
or arguments used to induce the legislature of the state of New 
York to pass the bill authorizing the construction of the Chemung 
canal and feeder was, that south of this point there were inexhaus- 
tible semi-biturniuous coal fields in Pennsylvania at Blossburg and 
vicinity, which together with the great forests of white pine, oak, 
Norway pine and" other valuable timber, would furnish tonnage 
for the canal. The terminal point of the canal having been located 
at the entrance of the Chimney narrows, forty-two miles distant 
from the coal fields, some other means of transportation had to be 
contrived whereby this tonnage of coal could be secured. The 
state of New York did not wish to engage in the enterprise and 
left it to individuals or companies to develop. The Hon. Erastus 
Corning, senior, of Albany, Thomas W. Olcott and others of the 
same city, together with enterprising men in this county, organized 
a company known as the Corning company about the year 1835 
and purchased land at this point, and soon thereafter, in connection 
with capitalists of Philadelphia, obtained a charter from the re- 
spective states of New York and Pennsylvania empowering the 
companies to build a railroad from this point up along the Chemung 
and Tioga rivers to Blossburg, the center of the coal field. As soon 
as this project became known, the company laid out lots in this 
place, which then were covered with timber or stumps, and pur- 



117 

chasers came here and located. The construction of the raih'oad 
commenced about the year 1836, and was finished in the year 1840. 
Kailroads were then in their infancy, not more than one hundred 
miles were in operation in the United States, A few months 
before the completion of the Corning and Blossburg railroad, the 
New York and Erie railroad company expended six million dollars 
in driving piles, building bridges upon their line between Piermonfc 
and Lake Erie, without completing but very few miles of connect- 
ed i-ailroad. You will recollect the mistake, and how it drove the 
company into bankruptcy. Corning, however, profited largely by 
the expenditure of large sums of money in this locality, and assist- 
ed in giving this young village a boom in wealth and population. 
In the year 1839 a bank was chartered, under the title of the Corn- 
ing bank, with a capital of about $100,000, secured by bonds and 
mortgages upon real estate, and securities of the state of New 
York. Many of the farmers of Steuben and Chemung counties 
took stock in the concern and mortgaged their farms, which twenty 
years thereafter suffered severely for their confidence in its man- 
agement. The establishment of a bank in this growing village 
with such men as Hiram W. Bostwick, Laurin Mallory and Phil- 
ander Mallory as officers, and John McBurney, John Patterson, 
Benjamin Patterson, Jonathan Brown, Frederic Woolcott, John L. 
Sexton, William Wambaugh, Thomas A. Johnson and others, di- 
rectors or stockholders, gave Corning a standing in the monetary 
circles of the country and enabled it to put on airs and set forth 
its claims to distinction. The Steuben county bank at Bath, man- 
aged by the Hon. John Magee, was the only other bank in Steuben 
county, and the Chemung canal bank at Elmira, managed by the 
Hon. John G. McDowell, the Hon. William MaxweU and the Hon. 
John Arnot, the only bank then in Chemung county. So this 
infant village, only five years old, had facilities for banking pur- 
poses equal to the older towns of Bath and Elmira, which had been 
founded for half a century. Corning had advertised itself through 
the Albany and New York newspapers, and speculators and bona 
fide settlers came thronging in from Albany, Utica, Schenectady, 
and the counties of Schoharie, Otsego, Delaware, Broome and Che- 
nango. Corning was a forest queen sitting in her palace at the 
head of canal navigation, and at the initial point of a railroad, 
which penetrated the valley of the Tioga and to the rich coal fields 
of Tioga county and the forests of valuable timber. The Chemung, 
Conhocton, Canisteo, Cowanesque and Tioga rivers, also bore upon 
their waters fleets of square timber and millions of feet of manu- 
factured lumber, which directly or indirectly paid tribute to her." 



NEWSPAPERS AND BUSINESS MEN. 



SOME OF THE PIONEERS AND PRESENT MANAGERS IN CORNING'S 

ENTERPRISES. 

''About the time of the establishment of the bank of Corning in 
the year 1839, a company erected a bridge across the Chemung 
river and canal about three quarters of a mile west of the John 



118 

Shoemaker or McCormick tavern stand. This bridge connected 
with a highway that led past the residence of the late Judge Steele, 
the farm now owned by Mr. Erwin. This enabled the people of 
Big Flats to visit Corning at all seasons of the year, whether the 
river was high or low, instead of depending upon the uncertainty 
of fording at Gillett's, a mile below. This bridge was kept up until 
the state had made improvements in the Chimney narrows, and 
thrown up a towing path which, for a number of years, was used 
leading from the old Post town road, at the mouth of Post creek, 
along the McBurney flats and across the river on the old Erie rail- 
road bridge into Corning. The state for a number of years spent 
large sums of money annually in rebuilding the canal dam across 
the river and in iDlasting down the rock chimneys, making a per- 
manent highway and towing path, constructing docks, etc., a large 
portion of which ultimately reached the pockets of the citizens of 
Corning. Some evil minded people had the audacity to denounce 
the laboring men, and business men and contractors as ''state rob- 
bers." But these epithets evidently were made in jest or prompted 
by envy at the good fortune of the citizens of Corning. The hard 
times of 1841-2-3, had its influence upon the young village; but 
she ralhed and continued to increase in wealth and population. 

In the years 1840-50, the Erie railroad was being permanently 
constructed, and for several months during the year 1850, Corning 
was its western completed terminus. This added to the immense 
trade in lumber, and the shipments of coal from its docks contri- 
buted to its continued prosperity. Schools, churches and mills 
were established within its hmits, and progress was marked upon 
its every action. A terrible fire swept over it in May, 1850, but it 
soon recovered from the shock. In the year 1852 the fkst division 
of the Conhocton Valley railroad was opened to Cornmg (now 
under control of the Erie, and known as the Rochester branch,) 
and about the same time the Corning & Blossburg railroad was 
relaid with iron, and its management placed in the hands of 
wealthy and energetic men. All these things contributed to build 
up Corning and attract population and capital to its borders. 

As early as 1840 a newspaper had been pubhshed in Corning, en- 
titled the Corning and Blossburg Advocate, edited by Charles 
Adams. It, however, did not prove a success, and in 1841 it was 
sold and the press and fixtures removed to Bath. But in the year 
184Y 'the Corning Journal was established by Thomas Messenger, 
and in 1851 it was purchased by A. W. McDowell and G. W. Pratt, 
and the next year (1852) G. W. Pratt assumed the entire control 
of it, as editor and proprietor. With the exception of a year or 
two, when Mr. Pratt had a partner, he has for the past thirty-four 
years controlled its columns and sat in the editorial chair and 
wielded a pen guided by one of the clearest intellects in the south- 
ern tier. As a weekly family newspaper it has few equals and no 
superiors. It is a journal that can safely be taken into the house- 
hold and the family circle and nothing in its columns has been 
found to offend the good taste or corrupt the morals of the com- 
munity. It has done much under Mr. Pratt's guiding and con- 
trolling hand to build up the prosperous village of Corning. For a 
third of a century has he nobly stood at the helm, giving his read- 
ers wholesome literature and interesting reading. 



119 

*'Inthe year 1853 Mark M. Pomeroy, who had served an ap- 
prenticeship in the office of the Journal under Dr. George W. 
Pratt, and who has since distinguished himself as an editor of much 
force and ability, with P. C. Van Gelder published a newspaper 
entitled the Corning Sun. In the year 1851 the Rev. Ira Brown 
purchased the office and conducted it as an agricultural paper for 
two years. 

"In 1S57 Charles T. Huston and Frank B. Brown issued the 
Corning Democrat. Frank B. Brown in a short time purchased Mr. 
Huston's interest and for the past twenty-eight years has conduct- 
ed it with ability and profit. About eighteen months ago he es- 
tablished a daily which is meeting with good success. Thus you 
see, Uncle Jonas, Corning has two weekly newspapers and one 
daily to fight the political battles and assist in developing the local 
resources of this prosperous viUage." 

"In the year 1848 Corning was incorporated as a village. Its 
population then was estimated at about 1, 800. Subsequent amend- 
ments have been made to its charter. It was taken from the town 
of Painted Post. A few years later the town of Corning was 
formed obliterating the name of Painted Post as a township, leav- 
ing the village of Painted Post the heritage of that historical name. 
We flew so rapidly through the country to-day that we passed the 
residences of many of the old settlers along on the river below 
here, before I had an opportunity of pointing them out to you. 
But I wiU name them, and no doubt they will be recollected by 
you — " 

"Oh, I know, Harry, who lived along the river this side of 
Thomas Noyes. There were Silas Gorton, Abram Bennett, Isaac 
Watrous, Asaph Rowley, Alva Rowley, Washington Rowley, John 
Shoemaker, Abram and Henry McCormic, Henry Burt, on the 
north side of the river. Joseph Gillett, Sylvester GiUett, Judge 
Steele, the Gortons, Calkins, and Wolcotts on the south side." 

"Yes, that is very true, Uncle Jonas, but you have missed sev- 
eral old settlers, which we will look up on our return. Immediate- 
ly succeeding the building of the Erie railroad and the Conhocton 
branch, a new bank was established under the management of 
George W. Patterson, Jr., and JohnN. Hungerford, a foundry and 
machine shop and other industrial establishments were established, 
new churches were erected or enlarged, public halls were built. 
Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges organized, and Corning was placed 
upon a solid and permanent business foundation. 

" Among the citizens and corporations who were prominent in 
building up the business interests of Corning, I recall the Hon. 
Erastus Corning and Thomas W. Olcott, of Albany, and at Corn- 
ing, Hiram W. Bostwick, Laurin Mallory, P. J. Mallory, the Hon. 
John McBurney, the Hon. Thomas A. Johnson, Benjamin W. 
Payne, Robert Olcott, Alexander Olcott, Stephen T. Hayt, Charles 
C. B. Walker, R. E. Robinson, Jonathan Brown, John N. Hunger- 
ford, George W. Pratt, Frank B. Browm, L. C. Kingsbury, the 
Fall Brook coal company, the Erie railroad company, the Tioga 
railroad company, the Chemung canal, the Corning glass company, 
Preston & Hermans, F. N. Drake, Austin Lathrop, Jr., Nelson Som- 
ers, J. M. Smith, Henry Goff, George W. Patterson, Jr., the Hon. 



1^20 

Henry Sherwood, Lewis T. Fuller, General Jacob Lansing, QuimiW. 
Wellington, Dr. William Terbell, Hiram Pritcharcl, Charles G. 
Denison, and among the old business and professional men, I re- 
call Dr. Joshua B. "Graves, Dr. Nelson M. Harrington, the Hon. 
George B. Bradley, the Hon. Charles H. Tliompson, General Wil- 
ham Irvine, Charles Douglass, William Walker, Zerah Todd, C. 
E. Corbin, William H. Brown, Fuller &, Gamman, Truman S. 
Pritchard, Edward Pier, Charles R. Maltby, C. G. Howell, A. T. 
Cochran, Rawson & Thatcher, Charles Freeman, Frank D. Kings- 
bury, John Hoar, Sr., A. Houghton, C. F. Houghton, Edward 
Clisdell, Thomas G. Hawks, Daniel F. Brown, A. L. Kendall, 
George Hitchcock, the Hon. George T. Spencer. Many of those I 
have mentioned, Uncle Jonas, are dead, but they contributed large- 
ly during their active lives to the prosperity of the village and 
should be gratefully remembered. Those who have gone to their 
long homes are: The Hon. Thomas A. Johnson, Laurin Mallory, 
Philander J. Mallory, Hiram W. Bostwick, Dr. Joshua B. Graves, 
General William Irvine, the Hon. Henry Sherwood, Benjamin W. 
Payne, Lewis Fuller, Robert Olcott, Jonathan Brown, John Mc- 
Burney, A. T. Cochran, John N. Hungerford, Henry Goff, Dr. 
Terbell and General Jacob PI. Lansing. It is nearly half a cen- 
tury since the Corning company was organized, consisting of Eras- 
tus Corning, Joseph Fellows, Thomas W. Olcott, Watts Sherman, 
Hiram W. Bostwick, William A. Bradley and Lorin J. Gillis. All 
these have passed away; but the work they planned has gone on, 
and Corning, the child of the tvilderness, has prospered and every 
year added to its wealth and population and made some new im- 
provement or erected some new industrial establishment. It is 
now supplied with water and gas and Belgian pavements. Its 
railroad facilities are good, reaching north and south, east and 
west. Its banking facilities are ample, the press is in the hands of 
intelligent and public-spirited gentlemen, its churches are well sup- 
ported and attended, its schools rank high and its free academy 
compares favorably with any in the state, its industrial establish- 
ments are prosperous, the railroads centering here are doing a large 
and profitable business, and, indeed, the village of Corning, Uncle 
Jonas, is making rapid strides towards a city. A few more years of 
prosperity and this will be accomplished. It is now the half shire 
of Steuben county. 

"The large interests which the Erie railroad, the Corning, Cow- 
anesque & Antrim, the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning and their 
connections with the New York Central and Jersey Shore & Pine 
Creek railway and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, coupled 
with the glass manufacturing, foundry and machine shop, the 
agricultural works, the car and repair shops of the Fall Brook coal 
company, will surely and certainly place Corning in the front ranks 
among her sisters of the southern tier in a very few years. Its 
population is i^apidly increasing and the population have come to 
stay and make this their permanent home." 

"Harry, look out of the window, there is an illuminated clock." 

"Yes, Uncle Jonas, the clock tower and the clock is the gift of 

the Hon. Erastus Corning, Jr., to the village of Corning. It is 

located in the centre of Dickinson House square, which has recently 



121 

been laid with Belgian blocks, in a very substantial manner. 
The citizens of Corning highly appreciate the generosity of Mr. 
Corning in providing them at all hours of the day and night, the 
reliable time. 

"Now, Uncle Jonas, I have rattled away upon the early history 
and present prospects of Corning until you must be weary. It is 
near tea time, and suppose we go down into the general reception 
room until after tea, and perhaps meet with some of the old citi- 
zens." 



A RAILROAD CENTER. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE FALL BROOK LINE AND OTHER CORNING RAIL- 
WAYS. 

The next morning Uncle Jonas requests Harry to teU him more 
about the Fall Brook coal company, the Corning, Cowanesque & 
Antrim, the Syracuse, Geueva & Corning, and the Jersey Shore &, 
Pine Creek railways. Harry thus proceeds : 

" There are several facts connected with the history of the Fall 
Brook coal company and these roads, which I have incidentally re- 
ferred to before, but which in order to give you a clear and con- 
nected idea of the matter I will repeat. The first step taken by the 
late Hon. John Magee, the founder of tlie Fall Brook coal com- 
pany, towards engaging in the coal business was in the year 1852. 
when he obtained the lease of the Blossburg coal mines at Bloss- 
burg and the railroad from Corning to LawrenceviUe. His eldest 
son, Duncan S. Magee, was sent to Blossburg to oversee the min- 
ing and shipping of coal, and in the business he was ably assisted 
by John Lang, who is now the treasurer of the company. In 1856 
Duncan S. Magee, with the knowledge and consent of his father, 
the Hon. John Magee, commenced exploring for coal upon lands 
of the late Christopher L. Ward, of Towancla, lying directly east 
of Blossburg. The exploration resulted in the purchase of those 
lands, about six thousand acres, and the incorporation of the FaU 
Brook coal company April 7, 1859. The incorporators were John 
Magee, Duncan S. Magee and James H. Gulick. The bill incor- 
porating the company was passed in the legislature of Pennsyl- 
vania March ^), 1850, and was vetoed by Governor William F. 
Packer. April 7, 1859, the bill was passed over the veto by more 
than a two-third majority. A railroad was built from Blossburg 
to these landr, during the summer and fall of 1859, and a mining 
town founded in the wilderness, christened Fall Brook. The dis- 
tance from Blossburg to Fall Brook is about seven miles, some 
back switching being necessary in order to reach the elevation at 
Fall Brook. Mining has since that time (1859) been carried on 
there. The coal on its way to market at Corning passed first over 
seven miles of the Fall Brook coal company's road, then twenty- 
five miles over the road of the Tioga company, and lastly fifteen 
miles over the Fall Brook coal company's road from Lawi-enceville 
to Corning. The Tioga interests were mining coal at Morris Run, 
and their outlet was over then- own road to LawrenceviUe, and 



122 

over the Fall Brook road to Corning. Some dissatisfaction grew 
out of this arrangement, and in the year 1866 explorations for coal 
were made by the agents or employes of the Fall Brook coal com- 
pany on Wilson creek, south of Wellsboro, which finally resulted 
m the purchase of a large tract of land in that locaUty, and the 
final opening up of coal mines, the founding of a new mining 
town which was christened by Duncan S. Magee, Antrim. Of 
this, Uncle Jonas, we will speak more at length, when we reach 
Antrim. In connection with the opening up of the mines at An- 
trim, a railroad was contemplated from Lawrenceville by the way 
of Tioga, Middlebury, Niles Valley, Wellsboro to Antrim, and a 
company organized for that purpose with Humphries Brewer pres- 
ident, and James Heron secretary and treasurer. These two gen- 
tlemen were the chief engineer and cashier at Fall Brook for the 
Fall Brook company. Before it was constructed, the Hon. John 
Magee, Duncan S. Magee and Humphries died and the work of 
carrying these projects into execution devolved upon General 
George J. Magee, second son of the Hon. John Magee. He proved 
equal to the task, and by the year 1872 the railroad was completed 
from Lawrenceville to Antrim, under the immediate direction of 
General Magee and his engineer Anton Harlt, now chief engineer 
for all the roads operated by the Fall Brook coal company. About 
the same time a raikoad was projected from Lawrenceville up the 
Cowanesque to Elkland, and when it was completed it was leased 
by the Fall Brook company, and the old road from Corning to Law- 
renceville, the road from Lawrenceville to Elkland, the road from 
Lawrenceville to Antrim, and the road from Blossburg to Fall 
Brook were consolidated under the general name of Corning, 
Cowanesque & Antrim railroad. The Syracuse, Geneva & Corn- 
ing railroad was soon thereafter projected and in the year 1877 it 
was completed. The Fall Brook coal company was interested to a 
large extent and became its lessee. The Jersey Shore & Pine 
Creek railroad, which connects with the Corning & Cowanesque 
railroad at Stokesdale junction in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and 
connects with the Philadelphia & Reading at Williamsport, is now 
operated by the Fall Brook coal company, as well as a branch hue 
leading from Dresden to Penn Yan, and from Geneva to Lyons. 
The Cowanesque branch has been extended from Elkland to Har- 
rison Valley in Potter county, near the head of the Cowanesque 
and Genesee rivers. You can therefore form some idea of the 
magnitude and proportions of the Fall Brook coal company's in- 
terests in mining and railroading. We will call at their depot and 
look through the various offices. It is close at hand." 

The extreme northeast terminus of the chain of railroads con- 
trolled and operated by the Fall Brook coal company is at Lyons, 
the county seat of Wayne county, in the very center of the land of 
the Six Nations. At that point it connects with the New York 
Central railroad, controlled by the Vanderbilts, and runs southeast 
to the foot of Seneca lake, the site of the ancient Indian village of 
Kane-de-saga, now known as Geneva, one of the finest inland 
villages of the state. At Geneva it connects with another branch 
of the New York Central, the Seneca lake navigation company and 
a branch of the Lehigh Valley railroad. Geneva is the seat of 



123 

Hobart College, a protestant episcopal institution, which was 
founded in the year 1826. It was also at that point that one of the 
oldest continued newspapers of western New York has been suc- 
cessfully printed for a period of seventy-seven years (the Geneva 
Gazette), and for the past forty-seven years has been under the 
management of S. H. Parker, who has grown gray in its publica- 
tion. It is also the oldest site of one of the oldest hotels in the 
county of Ontario, which has sheltered General Lafayette and 
many of the most prominent citizens of America, running up in 
the scale from the most humble citizen to the highest official in the 
land, including assemblymen, senators, canal commissioners, gov- 
ernors, United States senators, bishops, presidents, and those dis- 
tinguished in every walk of life, civil and military — I allude to the 
Franklin house. Its commanding view of the noble Seneca, its 
ample rooms, its elaborate and well-furnished parlors, its commo- 
dious dining hall, have made it famous and historic. For a long 
period of years it has been owned by S. S. MaUory, with Silas H. 
Remington lessee. From Geneva the road runs along the western 
bank of Seneca lake, through one of the most delightful countries 
in the United States. No wonder that the Eed Man fought so des- 
perately to retain this land, rich in all those attributes which were 
essential to their existence, and no wonder their warriors were 
eloquent, when they had been born and reared in a land of noble 
forests, sparkUng streams and silver lakes, the streams and lakes 
filled with countless varieties of fish, and the forest teeming with 
deer, moose, elk and bear, and mounds of the busy beaver, and a 
soil rich in the extreme, producing golden ears of corn and fruit in 
abundance. At Dresden it passes through a country made mem- 
orable by the universal friend, Jemima Wilkinson, and her follow- 
ers. At this point a branch diverges and ascends the outlet of Lake 
Keuka to Penn Yan, the foot of this beautiful lake, which extends 
westward to Hammondsport, and along wiiose sloping banks innu- 
merable vineyards are seen. The road from Dresden to Penn Yan 
is delightful. The waters of the outlet by the lake have cut a pass- 
age down through the slaty formation for one hundred feet in 
depMi, vmtil its bed rests upon a limestone basis. Commerce and 
industry have utilized the waters of this stream, whose descent is 
about forty feet to the mile, and a number of large and expensive 
paper mills are located in this narrov/ ravine. From Dresden the 
traveler has a fine view of the Willard insane asylum, which is 
situated upon the opposite side of Seneca lake, about two miles 
distant. Leaving Dresden, the main hne proceeds to Himrods, 
gradually attaining a greater elevation above the lake, and thus 
enabling the passenger to obtain a broader view of the delightful 
country about him. At Himrods it crosses and makes connections 
with the Nortliern Central railroad, and then proceeds through the 
rolling and undulating'country to Harpending's corners, uoav known 
as Dundee, one of the brightest and liveliest country villages along 
the lake, containing two banks, two newspaper offices, several fine 
churches, a number of substantial business places, fine residences 
and a population of about 1,800 inhabitants. The passenger is stiU 
in the land once held dear by the Eed Men of the Six Nations. The 
course of the railroad is still southward, crossing Rock stream. 



124 

passing through Eeading Center, within three miles of the famous 
Watkins glen. The passenger can now cast his eye to the east- 
ward and feast his eyes upon a landscape rich in pastoral scenes. 
Away across the lake are seen beautiful farms, elegant farm houses, 
fruitful orchards and vineyards, while he is rolling along in a 
country grand in the extreme. At length the famous Glen is 
reached. He has now reached the altitude of six hundred feet 
above the village of Watkins, and the chasm is crossed on an iron 
bridge four hundred feet in length and one hundred and sixty-five 
feet above the bed of the glen. This Glen stands second only to 
Niagara Falls in grandeur and pubhc interest. Two hundred thou- 
sand people from all sections of America and Europe annually visit 
it. The railroad company have erected a large pavihon at its brink, 
and cut a stairway down through the rock, to effect an entrance at 
its western or middle outlet. Leaving this grand work of nature, 
the traveler is conveyed by the tireless engine, seated in well- 
upholstered and easy-riding coaches, southwestward to Beaver 
Dams, a thriving village situated nearly on the dividing ridge, 
between the points where water flows into Seneca lake and south- 
westward into the Chemung river. If the passenger is so disposed 
when he is at Watkins station, or Glen bridge station, he can 
alight and spend several days at Watkins, a beautiful village at 
the head of the Seneca lake, and the site of the Indian village, 
Catharines town, made historic as being the home of that cele- 
brated Indian queen, Catharine Montour ; or he can continue on 
from Beaver Dams down Post creek, made memorable in connec- 
tion with the raid of General Sullivan in 1779, against the Six 
Natioiis, and the discovery of the celebrated Painted Post, an Indian 
landmark upon the banks of the Conhocton, passing Post creek 
station, Ferenbaugh, and entering the valley of the Chemung, 
crossing the Chemung river and rolling into Corning. From Corn- 
ing its course is up the Chemung and Tioga rivers, upon the great 
Indian path that led from Painted Post to the home of Tiadaghton 
upon Pine Creek, and the dominion of Shikelemy upon the west 
branch of the Susquehanna. In its. route it passes through Erwin 
Center, Cooks, Lindley, reaching Lawrenceville at the state hne. 
There one branch leads up through the vaUey of the Cowanesque, 
one of the finest valleys in northern Pennsylvania, touching at 
Nelson, Elkland, Academy Corners, Knoxville, Cowanesque and 
Westfield, penetrating a country rich in agricultural productions, 
thriving villages and delightful scenery, and finally terminating at 
Harrison Vahey, near the head waters of the Conhocton, whose 
waters flow into Chesapeake bay, and the Genessee, into Lake 
Ontario and the gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Allegany, 
whose waters flow into the Ohio and the great gulf of Mex- 
ico, while the main line continues up the Tioga valley to Tioga 
village, passing through Dunnings and Lathrops, then on the old 
Indian trail, crossing the Elkhorn and ascending Crooked creek to 
Hollidays and Middlebury, thence to Niles Valley and Stokesdale 
Junction, where the old line proceeds to Wellsboro, the beautiful 
county seat of Tioga county, surrounded by its rich and productive 
farmmg lands, a borough distinguished for the hospitahty and 
refinement of its people, the home of United States Senator 



125 

Hon. John I. Mitchell, General Jerome B. Niles, auditor-general of 
the state of Pennsylvania ; the Hon. Mortimer F. Elliott, ex-con- 
gressman-at-large for Pennsylvania ; the Hon. Henry Sherwood, 
ex-congressman and president of the Jersey Sliore ana Pine Creek 
railroad ; the Hon. Henry Williams, president judge of Tioga 
county ; the Hon. Hugh Young, United States hank examiner ; 
the Hon. Stephen F. Wilson, ex-additional law judge, ex-momber 
of congress and senator, and from thence away to the southeast- 
ward, ascending a steep grade until it reaches Antrim, the model 
mining town of Pennsylvania, while the main line continues its 
course down through Marsh Creek valley, a distance of about eight 
miles, and reaches the shores of the celebrated Tiadaghton, or Pine 
Creek, thence down Pine Creek through one of the wildest and 
most romantic gorges in the middle or eastern states, through a 
passage only wide enough to admit of the raih-oad and Pine Creek, 
with mountains lifting their craggy heads twelve hundred feet 
above the road bed. Reaching Blackwells at the confluence of 
Babb's Creek with Pine Creek, the course is southward, still lead- 
ing through mountain and valley scenery unsurpassed, until it 
reaches Jersey Shore on the west branch of the Susquehanna, 
from thence to Newberry Junction, where connections are made 
with the Philadelphia and Reading railway. No person, Uncle 
Jonas, can adequately describe the beauty and variety of landscape 
scenery from Lyons to Newberry over the roads operated by the 
Fall Brook coal company. At tmies the traveler is rolling along 
in agricultural districts unsurpassed in loveliness, then again his 
eyes rest upon lakes, cascades, waterfalls and chasms, then again 
river, valley and rugged mountain views. The views are at every 
mile of the route interesting and attractive, and I am certain you 
will agree with me when we have taken the trip." 



THE FALL BROOK COMPANY. 



A VISIT TO THE OFFICES AND SHOPS — THE MEN AND THEIR WORK. 

Uncle Jonas and Harry take a walk over to the Fall Brook coal 
company's extensive freight and passenger depot and elegant of- 
fices, occupied by its various officials. Upon the second floor, fac- 
ing the public square, they enter the office of the president of the 
company, General George J. Magee, upon whose shoulders the 
mantle of his distinguished father, the Hon. John Magee, fell. Mr. 
Magee is a pleasant and affable gentleman about forty years of 
age, and no one would suppose from his bland manners and genial 
smile that the cares and responsibilities of the Fall Brook coal com- 
pany were controlled and managed by him. They found him dic- 
tating messages and orders to his private secretary and stenogra- 
pher," L. P. Miller. Passing out of the president's room they enter 
the offica of Vice-President and Treasurer John Lang, a gentleman 
who for more than thirty years has been connected with the Fall 
Brook coal company. Commencing his service at Blossburg for 
the Magee's several years before the Fall Brook coal company was 



126 

organized — ever the same trusted vigilant and efficient official. In 
a room adjoining they met John H. Lang, assistant treasurer and 
paymaster, who has for many years been employed by the com- 
pany, and also met Charles K. Minor assistant paymaster John 
L. Lewis, Jr., chief bookkeeper, and S. J. Lang, Frank Osborn and 
W. J. Herman's clerk. After spending a few minutes with John 
L. Lewis, Jr., who is an old employe, they are conducted into the 
rooms of Daniel Beach, treasurer of the Morris Run Coal Mining 
Company, in which company the Fall Brook coal company are 
largely interested. Mr. Beach has been for many years directly 
and indirectly interested in the affairs of the Fall Brook company 
and is one of the most pleasant and agreeable gentleman connected 
with the company. The clerks employed in his office were L. P. 
Robinson, Samuel S. Denton and A. I. Martin. They are then 
conducted into the roojn occupied by A. H. Gorton, general super- 
intendent of all the lines operated by the Fall Brook coal company. 
Mr. Gorton has been for many years connected with the company. 
He commenced at the foot of the ladder and by his skill and atten- 
tion to business he has risen to his lucrative, laborious and high 
position. His assistant is George R. Brown, of whom we shall 
speak hereafter. The clerks are John Heron and Fred Leis. John 
Heron commenced his labors for the Fall Brook coal company a 
number of years ago, when his father, the late James Heron was 
manager at Fall Brook. Mr. Heron is eminently qualified for the 
position he occupies. They were next conducted to the traffic 
manager's room, where they found H. A. Horning, general traffic 
manager busily engaged in supervising personally the details of 
the immense business of the Fall Brook coal company's freight and 
passenger traffic, outlining correspondence and dictating letters and 
establishing rates of transportation to near and distant points. Mr. 
Horning has been many years a valuable employe of the company. 
The chiet clerk in his office is John D. Lawton, who has been 
many years in the employ of the company, filhng the position 
of telegraph operator, station agent and ticket agent and 
in every position assigned him he has discharged its duties 
with fidelity and satisfaction. He is assisted by C. S. May, W. A. 
Hyde and Miss A. Fritts, who acts in the capacity of stenographer 
and type-writer. From the office of traffic manager they went to 
the office of Auditor William Nicholson. They found him and his 
clerks busily engaged in auditing the accounts of the company with 
their various station and ticket agents, conductors and shippers. 
His force consists of himself and D. F. Chandler, J. C. Collord, C. 
G. Cole, Ransom Pratt, F. A. Newton and C. S. Day. From the 
rooms of the auditor, they next visited the office of the general 
purchasing agent. That position for a number of years was filled 
by Andrew Beers, now deceased. Mr. Beers was the first agent of 
the Fall Brook coal company at Corning, when it first began the 
shipment of coal from Fall Brook twenty-six years ago, and occu- 
pied that position for several years. A few years ago he was 
chosen general purchasing agent, and remained in that responsible 
position until his death. He was a careful, cautious, honest and 
good man. The office is now filled by W. H. Chaphe, assisted by 
pis son, W. H. Chaphe, Jr., and is conducted very satisfactorily. 



127 

They next visited the car accountant's office presided over by J. B. 
Terbell, assisted by F. E. Sharp, Charles Gregorius, Frank Guern- 
sey, A. H, Reynolds and Robert Stere. They were well pleased 
with their visit and much interested in the work there performed. 
They then visited the well lighted and cheerful rooms of Chief En- 
gineer Anton Hardt. Mr. Hardt received them politely and kindly 
and a half an hour was agreeably spent in conversing upon the 
hues of railroads controlled by the Fall Brook coal company — ex- 
amining photographs and draughts of bridges, trestles, coal 
schutes and gaining much information in regard to raih-oading. 
Mr. Hardt has been in the employ of the Fall Brook coal com})any 
about nineteen years. He surveyed and located the railroad from 
Lawrence ville to Antrim via Wellsboro, the Syracuse, Geneva & 
Corning, the Jersey Shore & Pine Creek railroad, and has charge 
of all the railroads now operated by the Fall Brook coal company. 
He also has had for many years a general supervision over all the 
company's mining operations in Tioga county, Moriis Run except- 
ed. He is a tireless worker and an able geologist, civil and mining 
engineer, and a graduate of one of the most scientific and popular 
schools in Vienna, Austria. He is ably assisted by H, A. Hernden 
and H. H. Alber, W. J. Lynahan, son of William D. Lynahan, an 
old employe, is the private and confidential telt graph operator for 
the president, treasurer and other officials. The visit of the chief 
engineer completed the offices on the second floor. Descending to 
the first floor they entered the office of George R. Brown, assistant 
superintendent of the railroad, and superintendent of the telegraphs 
under the control of the Fall Brook coal comj^any. Mr. Brown 
has been many years the laborious and careful train dispatcher and 
superintendent of the telegraph, performing his duties with signal 
ability and with commendable success. He has been ably assisted 
by John W. Lynahan, a gentleman equally painstaking and cau- 
tious. The great number of coal and passenger trains every day 
and hour of the day passing over their lines have required the ut- 
most skill and attention. That it has received from Mr. Brown 
and Mr. Lynahan, They are assisted by Thomas McAvoy, H. 
Perry, F. J. Armstrong and George C. Wade. Crossing the hall 
they enter the office of C. E. Greenfield, station agent. Mr. Green- 
field is a thorough and competent business man and has the work 
at hand thoroughly systematized. The business at this office is 
simply immense. Mr. Greenfield, however, seems equal to the 
task of performing it with great satisfaction. He is ably assisted 
byC. B. Chandler, Clark Lockwood and J. N. Purrong. Passing 
out of the station agent's office, they walk into the large and com- 
fortable gentlemen's waiting room with the ladies' waiting room 
on the left, they pass out at the east door and walk into the exten- 
sive freight and warerooms connected with the depot, and like the 
main building substantially built of brick. Here they find Erastus 
S. Pier, Thomas Kennedy, William Grossman, Thomas Gill, John 
Kennedy, Sherman Derose and William Painter, busily engaged in 
receiving and shipping freight, which has been transported over 
their lines, or is to be sent over them. There they saw freight of 
various kinds which had been shipped from New York, Philadel- 
phia, St. Paul, Chicago, Buffalo and intermediate points, and 



128 

freight which was also destined to near and remote points, thus 
showing the many points reached by the Fall Brook coal company's 
roads and gave them a faint idea of their immense freight business, 
aside from the millions of tons of coal, both anthracite and bi- 
tuminous that daily was hauled by their ponderous engines. 

Leaving the freight room profoundly impressed with the im- 
mense freight business, they walk down to the immense car and 
repair shops of the Fall Brook coal company about three-quarters 
of a mile distant. 

"These shops. Uncle Jonas, were established in the year 1862, 
while all the members of the original company were alive. About 
that time the Hon. John Magee removed from Bath, N. Y., to 
Watkins, N. Y., at the head of Seneca lake, the better to look 
after the increased coal trade. He had long been a resident of 
Bath, holding strong business relations with that town as well as 
having served Steuben county as sheriff and two terms as member 
of congress during the Jacksonian administration. It was quite a 
severe loss to Bath, but a great gain to Watkins. He must have 
spent at least two hundred thousand dollars in Watkins building 
offices, docks, coal schutes, dwellings and churches. The old 
superintendent of these shops was 0. C. Patchell, who for over 
twenty years was the master mechanic, directing the repairing 
and construction of cars for the company. He died a few months 
ago and his memory is cherished by a large number of mec lanics 
and railroad men who for years had met him and been under his 
direction. 

The present superintendent is W. A. Foster, a skilled mechanic, 
who is assisted by C. J. Butler, master car builder, with A. J. 
Etheridge as assistant; A. Armstrong as master boiler maker, Wil- 
ham Adams, chief of supplies, assisted by William Buchanan, and 
Mr. Norwood as engine dispatcher. From time to time as business 
has increased, the company have enlarged their facilities for doing 
work until now there is about four hundred men employed in the 
various divisions and departments. Many of these employees have 
served fifteen, eighteen and twenty years and regard the Fall 
Brook coal company as their very best friend. Many of the old 
engineers have pulled the throttle for the company from the earh- 
est date of the coal trade. The longest engineers in continued ser- 
vice are Fred S. Bragg and Hod Lownsberry. The oldest engineer 
is Deacon Lovejoy, but many years ago he left the road and resides 
in Corning. The first engine on the road was named in his honor. 
It now belongs to the Blossburg coal company and about two 
years ago was placed by that company in the invalid hospital. 
Much of its machinery is good. It was used for five years on the 
Fall Brook branch, and has drawn all the old members and friends 
of the Fall Brook coal company — The Hon. John Magee, James H. 
Gulick, Duncan S. Magee, John Lang, D. C. Howell, the Hon. 
Horatio Seymour, Daniel Beach, A. H. Gorton, R. J. Burnham, 
H. A. Horning, C. C. B. Walker, Austin Lathrop, Jr., A. J. Owen, 
Andrew Beers and many others that I could enumerate. Its work 
is historic. Harry, have this large number of employees any socie- 
ties which they support or of which they are members ? " 

" Oh, yes, Uncle Jonas. The conductors have a society, and the 



129 

engineers have one. The engineers have a division or lodge in 
Corning, and their organization is known as Corning Division of 
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, No. 244. The division 
was organized April 28, 1884, with sixteen charter members. Its 
officers were : James Roberts, C. E. ; F. S. Bragg, F. E. ; W. E. 
Clark, S. E. ; I. Switzer, T. E, ; George Marland,"F, A. E. ; Jesse 
Newell, S. A. E.; P. Helwig, C.;H. Curtis, G. On the first day 
of October, 1885, they had forty-%ven members. The officers for 
the ensuing year are: F. S. I^ragg, C. E. ; W. E. Clark, F. E. ; I. 
Switzer, S. E. ; D. Robison, P. E. ; George Marland, F. A. E, ; Jesse 
Newell, S. A. E., Joseph Boyle, G. ; T. Shoens, chaplain; James 
Roberts, delegate to annual convention being held in New Orleans. 
It is a strong and commendable society, designed to elevate and 
educate its members, and exercising a wholesome influence upon 
those who have the lives of so many thousands in their hands." 

' ' I might as weU tell you now. Uncle Jonas, who are the princi- 
pal employes of the road, as we are returning up Market street to 
the Dickinson house. It will be a long list, but you must remem- 
ber their names. It will save my repeating them again as we go 
over the road. We will commence at Lyons, the extreme north- 
east terminus of the road. 

FALL BROOK FREIGHT AGENTS AND OPERATORS. 

Syracuse, Geneva & Corning railway. — Lyons— E. E. Kershner, 
freight agent; Miss A. Ransom, ticket agent; F. C. Burns, J. D. 
EngersoU, T. W. Townsend, F. S. Percell, E. M. Smith, operators. 

Geneva.— T. W. MiUs, freight agent; C. A. Baldwin, ticket 
agent; John Dodge, P. Gallagher, operators. 

Earles. — James P. Hoose, agent. 

Dresden. — B. F. Paddock, agent; Miss Hattie Harris, operator. 

Penn Yan. — D. M. Hamlin, agent; J. W. Oberfell, operator. 

Himrods Junction.— N. Jacobson, freight agent; E. T. Parks, 
operator. 

Himrods. — L. G. Jones, agent. 

Dundee.— W. E. More, agent; F. A. Dunning and E. H. Padock, 
operators. 

Rock Stream. — K. J. Vosburg, agent and operator. 

Reading Center.— J. W. Warner, agent; Miss J. M. Warner, 
operator. 

Watkins Glen. — D. S. Nye, agent and operator; J. J. Lane, bag- 
gage master. 

Wedgewood. — James Wedge wood, agent. 

Deaver Dam. — E. W. Hurd, agent; W. J. Maloney, operator. 

Post Creek. — W. E. Farenbaugh, agent. 

Corning.— C. E. Greenfield, agent; C. B. Chandler, Clark Lock- 
wood, J. N. Purrong, clerks. 

Corning, Cowanesque & Antrim — Erwin Center. — T. J. Presho, 
agent. 

Lindley. — E. D. Leggett, agent. 

Lawrence ville. — J. H. Hitchcox, agent; S. M. McAvoy, C. 0. 
Roff, operators. 

Tioga.— R. P. H. McAlhster, agent; V. D. McAllister, operator. 

Holiday. — V. B. Hohday, agent. 

Middlebury. — H. M. Lowell, agent; E. B. Mills, operator. 




The New E. C. & N. Depot, Elmira, N. Y. 



130 

Niles Valley. — T, J. Purvis, agent; T. D. Rouse, operator. 

Stokesdale Junction. — C. E. Fogg, agent; H. A. Bartholomew, 
operator. 

Stokesdale. — Schieffelin & Co., agents. 

WeUsboro. — H. J. Eaton, agent; T. W. Evans, operator. 

Antrim. — U. Buckley, agent and operator. 

Nelson. — J. Bottom & Co., agents. 

Elkland. — C. H. Bennedict, agent. 

Osceola. — D. Baxter. 

Academy Corners. — M. V. Purple, agent. 

Knoxville. — T. C. Campbell, agent. 

Cowanesque. — A. B. Strang, agent. 

Westfield. — E. S. Hortou, agent. 

Potter Brook. — William A. Ellison, agent. 

Elmer.— M. L. Haskell, agent, 

Harrison Valley. — J. Bottom & Co., agents. 

Fall Brook.— F. G. Elliott, agent. 

Pine Creek Railway — Ansonia. — M. B. Maynard, agent and 
operator. 

Tiadaghton. — G. B. Horton, agent and operator. 

Blackwells. — S. M. Kniseley, agent; Martin Dawson, operator. 

Cedar Run. — J. G. Scarborougii, agent; J. E. Degrote, operator, 

Cammal. — B. A. Ovenshire, agent and operator. 

Waterville. — C L. Ellison, agent and operator. 

Jersey Shore. — L. P. Willison, agent; John Walsh, operator. 

Larry's Creek. — C. B. Riddell, agent and operator. 

Linden. — J. F. McLean, agent; J. F. McLean, jr., operator. 

Newberry Junction. — N. W. Peak, agent; E. M. Billiard, W. L. 
Strand, operators. 

First-class conductors. — J. H. Way, T. D. Brown, E. A. Kriger, 
R. M. Richardson, R. Houglitalling, H. L. Daniels, George Weeks, 
L. F. Cowley, F. S. Winters, J. D. McGannon. 

Second-class conductors. — J. D. Carlton, S. M. Copp, W. H. 
Doolittle, P. O'Brien, Edward Blair, C. K. Lathrop, John Wilson, 
William Brother, WiUiam Tullet, Ed. Garrison, Pat. McGannon, 
John Driscoll, F. W. Pierce, R. E. Maleady, L. W. Kiff, H. D. 
Calkins, M. S. Melvin, Ed. Williams, E. A. Williams, J. T. Brown, 
J. G. Ryan, W. A. Pierce, John Ward, C. C. Cook, J. B. Brown, 
B. McCarthy, D. W. Weally, L. S. Husted, WiUiam Kirkham, 
Jerry Haley, George Ryal, George Winton, G. P. Gooding, R. E. 
Pierce, Pat Fleming, John Burke, Frank Withian, Robert Stitt, 
Fred Clarkson, W. H. Hyland, J. H. Hebe, N. Aldrich, A. F. 
Boyd, C. H. Bennett, James McCormick, George Weyer. 

Engineers.— Henry Wheeler, F. S. Bragg, B. F. Burt, H. W. 
Lownsberry, C. H. Chapman, John Barber (tw^enty-four years), 
William E. Clark, John White, Jos. Boyle, James Richards, Jabe 
Orcutt, C. M. Reed, George Harris, James May, Leroy White. E. 
J. Patchill, C. L. Painter, J. T. Leavy, Hudson Phillips, Benj. 
Young. Isaac Switzer, Jos. Barber, W. E. Woolcott, M. L. Rice, 
0. L. Call, A. W. Smith, Yates Delancy, Peter Maxwer, R. J. 
Brewer, G. E. Brown, C. P. Wescott, James N. Robinson, James 
Green, A. Lamareaux, William Brewer, John Burgey, M. D. Rob- 
inson, Henry Earnest, Pat. Ready, D. B. Stevens, M. McMahon, 



131 

M. J. O'Shoughnessey, O. C. Bennett, Z. T. Hall, Peter Helwig, 
John McCoy, C. D. Cool, George B. Cooper, J. J. Eoberts, I. D. 
Wolcott, Henry Krebs, G. F. Brown, Jacob McCoy, A. J. Goble, 
David McQuade, Henry Veazie, Clark Keagle, Isaiah Johnson, R. 

E. Hathaway, J. D. Pease, A. Husted, T. H. Shoens, S. E. Pear- 
ley, M. V. Carey, John W. Baker, Chas. Doty, C. W. Smith, Abe 
Cowley, W. L. Keagle. 

Baggage-masters.— John Shanley, W. H. Clawson, F. Bishop, 

F. S. Webb, M. Gleason, W. W. Gray, F. R. Fillman, Samuel 
Maxwell. 

''Now, Uncle Jonas, you must be fatigued and we will go into 
the Dickinson house and rest ourselves. To-morrow we will go 
over the road to Wellsboro and Antrim." 



CORNING TO WELLSBORO. 



A PLEASANT RIDE DOWN THE FALL BROOK ROAD — THE CHANGES OP A 

HALF CENTURY. 

' ' There are two trains that go to Wellsboro in the morning, 
Uncle Jonas, one quite early that runs through to William sport, 
and one later that goes to Wellsboro and Antrim and at Lawrence- 
ville connects with trains up the Cowanesque and Tioga valleys. 
I think we had better take the train that goes about 10 o'clock, 
and that' will give us plenty of time here in the morning. We will 
not be hurried with our breakfast." 

"I will leave the matter to you entirely, Harry." 
"By the way, Uncle Jonas, I would like you to meet John H. 
Way, one of the oldest conductors in point of service that is em- 
ployed by the Fall Brook coal company. Mr. Way commenced 
his railroad career about thirty years ago and has made many 
friends by his courteous manners and his care for the comfort and 
pleasure of the passengers who have been in his charge. He re- 
sides in a very pleasant cottage on East Church street, and he has 
taken great care to make his home attractive. He is very clever 
with the brush and easel and has sketched many elegant land- 
scapes, forest and stream views which are appropriately distributed 
in his parlors, sitting-room and library, making those rooms very 
attractive. His wife also possesses more than an ordinary skill 
and talent with the crayons and brush, and has produced a num- 
ber of very fine works of art. But we shall not probably meet 
Mr. Way as he will take charge of the train that goes to Watkins, 
Geneva and Lyons. Our conductor will be Thomas Brown, more 
familiarly known as Tom Brown. He, too, is a veteran conductor 
having been employed by the company for twenty years or more. 
Tom resides in Wellsboro and has a pleasant home. He is quite 
fond of the chase, and generally spends his vacations in Tioga and 
Potter counties irr Pennsylvania, in hunting and fishing. He is a 
most excellent shot and when at leisure could relate some very in- 
teresting incidents of his experience in the wilds of those sections. 
But, Uncle Jonas, I will not weary you to-night with any further 



132 



conversation, l)ut will make the necessary arrangements for our 
trip to-morrow." 



* * 



"This is the train for Wellsboro, Uncle Jonas, and this is Mr. 
Brown, the conductor, and this is Horace Lownsberry, the en- 
gineer." 

"Gentlemen, I am pleased to meet you. Harry, my nephew, 
has told me about you, and I take it we will have a safe and pleas- 
ant ride. We will take seats on the right hand side of the car, 
Harry, for I want to look out over the river as we pass along. 
Yonder, Harry, is the old residence of the McBurney's. I was 
well acquainted with the old judge, as well as his sons, the Hon. 
John McBurney and Thomas McBurney. Just above the bridge 
was the old residence of John Jennings, and the early home of 
Ben. Patterson, the pioneer who subsequently removed two and 
one-half miles w^est of Painted Post. As you will recollect, Harry, 
Arthur Erwin, of Bucks county, purchased a township of land of 
Phelps & Goi'ham, which included the site of the original Painted 
Post, and all the land skirting the Conhocton and Tioga rivers for 
several miles. Arthur Erwin, the original patentee, was shot at 
Athens, about the year 17l>0, but his sons came on here, settled and 
became prominent and foremost citizens. I declare, Harry, we 
glide along so fast that I hardly have time to point out the old 
landmarks. Across the river yonder was the old residence of John 
Evans, the learned and useful pioneer who came into this country 
from England about the year 1 S(50, via Nortlm nl r and. Why I say 
he was so useful was because he was a gentleman of methoaical 
and well disciplined habits. He filled the position of teacher, ac- 
countant, land surveyor, clerk, justice of the peace. United States 
assessor, and revenue collector, when his district comprised what 
are now the counties of Allegany, Livingston, Steuben, Yates, 
Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga, Tompkins, Broome, Cortland and Che- 
nango. He was the very embodiment of accuracy, and his books, 
in point of plain and elegant handwriting, cannot be excelled even 
by our modern professors in commercial colleges. Yonder is a 
lumber establishment which has become historic. I refer to Fox, 
Weston & Bronson. This Harry is 'Jacks Eddy,' named in honor 
of John Mullhollon, who was a pioneer settler and familiarly known 
as 'Jack' Mullhollon. The station here is named also after him. 
lu that cemetery on the north side of the river is buried many of 
the old pioneers of this valley— Ben Patterson, Marcus Huling, 
Eobert Pattei*son and Ben Patterson the second, with Jane E. 
Jones, his wife, are laid to rest there. Old raftsmen honor that 
point over yonder on the ' Canisteo turn,' on account of the abrupt 
and sudden turn in the river. We are now approaching Erwin 
Center. Forty-five years ago, Harry, this was an important point 
for lumbering. It was the residence of tlie Smiths, Hoffmans, 
Messereaus, Kedfields and others. . The renowned Captain Isaiah 
J. Jones, who fought the bear single handed and killed her, resided 
here and owned the farm just above the station. Across the river 
are the famous 'blue banks,' well-known to old hunters as a 'run- 
away' for deer. Here, on the left, is the McCuUough farm, and 
just beyond is where Abner Collins and Mat Paul resided. We 



133 

are approaching now the homestead of the celebrated John P. 
Ryers and his son, Joseph A^ . Ryers, who was connected with the 
railroad in its infancy, and who removed to and died in Philadel- 
phia. His brother, G. A. Ryers, died at the old homestead many 
years ago. They owned three thousand acres here of very valua- 
ble white pine and oak timbered land, which they sold to Fox, 
Weston & Bronson. At Ryers' Eddy was the home of an old 
pioneer, Hezekiah Kinney. Across the river were the homes of 
the Messereaus and Harrowers. Silas Cook was an early settler 
here, which has given the name of Cooks to this station. He wa& 
a son-in-law of Robert Patterson, the pioneer who, with his brother 
Benjamin, conducted General Williamson's party in 1192 down this 
valley and to Bath, and who settled on this river a few rods above 
here in 1805. Patterson lived to see a railroad penetrate this val- 
ley, where fifty years before there was not even a highway or a 
settler. Frederic Heckart was an early settler in this vicinity as 
well as the Rev. David Harrower, Albert C. Moi-gan, Benjamin 
narrower, Porter Harrower, Eber Scofield, Abner Thurber. I 
told you about Mayor Lindsley and other old settlers of the south- 
ern portion of the town of Lindley when we were going up the 
valley of the Tioga, and will not repeat them again." 

After leaving Lawrenceville Tom Brown, the conductor, found 
time to occasionally spend a moment with Uncle Jonas, pointing 
out old land-marks and making the hours pass pleasantly by. 
Crossing the Tioga river at Lawrenceville the railroad leads up on 
the west side of the river, passing the old home of Austin Lathrop, 
sr., and keeping close under the base of the mountain until you 
reach the broad and alluvial flats upon which the village of Tioga 
is situated. At the latter point the Elkhorn and Crooked creeks 
unite and the course of the railroad is up through the valley of 
Crooked creek, where thirty-five years ago lumbering was carried 
on very extensively, a plank road being constructed from Tioga to 
Wellsboro, where for many years a hundred teams per day could 
be seen hauling the product of the mills to Tioga for ship- 
ment either upon the river or the Corning or Blossburg railroad. 
At HoUiday's, Middlebury and Niles Valley exciting and busy 
scenes were enacted. The great lumber firm of Phelps, Dodge & 
Stokes owned many thousand acres in this valley and contiguous 
territory and were employing a small army of men in the woods 
and mills. Many of the descendants of those pioneer lumbermen 
now own and occupy farms in this valley, and are tilling the soil 
with full as much prollt as their fathers hewed down the pines. 
Look at those beautiful farm houses and out- buildings which show 
thrift and prosperity. The tanning business succeeded the white 
pine lumbering, and many thousand dollars have been invested in 
that industry. " We are now approaching Stokesdale Junction, 
where the Jersey Shore and Pine Creek railroad diverges. We 
will talk more about that road upon our return from Wellsboro. 
Among the prominent early citizens in this locality were Aaron 
Niles, father of General Jerome B. Niles, auditor-general of Penn- 
sylvania; H. H. Potter and Jesse Locey. The train, however, is 
moving on at such a rapid rate that we shall have to recall those 
old settlers at a future time." 



134 

"Forty-five years ago, Harry, some of the finest hunting grounds 
in America were in this vicinity. Tlie forests were Uterally full of 
deer, elk, bear and smaller game. The streams were full of fish, 
which required very little skill to catch, in fact it was the sports- 
men's Eldorado. I have been here when I could stop at 
Aaron Niles, Sheriff Potter or HoUiday's, and if necessary take a 
wagon load of venison home with me. Or if it was in trout season 
I could pack in cans or tubs hundreds of as fine fish as ever swam 
in water. Crooked creek, Marsh creek and Pine creek were literally 
full of them." 

" The next station, Uncle Jonas, is Stockdale. E. G. Schiefflein, 
son of one of the early pioneers, is largely interested in tanning at 
that point, and the little hamlet located there, is the outgrowth of 
the business of tanning, the dwellings being chiefly occupied by 
the employes of Mr. Schiefflein. You recollect. Uncle Jonas, when 
we were at Hoytville a few weeks since that I referred then to the 
magnitude of the tanning interest in Tioga county, and stated 
among other things that it required the hemlock bark from one 
hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty miUion feet of hem- 
lock timber annually to supply the tanneries of this county. At 
that rate the hemlock forests of this section of Pennsylvania, wiU 
in a few^ years, have been cut down. Here we are at Wellsboro." 

" Wellsboro is the county seat of Tioga county and contains 
about three thousand inhabitants. We will take the Wilcox house 
omnibus, Uncle Jonas, and go to that house, which is nicely situ- 
ated upon the main street, near the public square and the county 
buildings. Its proprietor is Seth 0. Daggett, a grandson of Major 
Seth Daggett, one of the early pioneers and prominent settlers in 
the town of Jackson, in the northeastern portion of this county, 
and who looks attentively after the comfort and care of his guests. 
There are several other good houses in the borough, among which 
are the Cole house and Sandbach house, which are very handsome- 
ly kept. The reason I desire to stop at the Wilcox house is because 
I became acquainted with Mr. Daggett when he resided at Horse- 
heads, and promised to become his guest should I ever come to 
WeUsboro." 

" Suit your own convenience, Harry, and I shall be content." 

They step into the omnibus and proceed to the hotel, where they 
were met by Mr. Daggett and escorted to a room which command- 
ed a view of the public park, was warm and neatly furnished. 
They prepare for dinner and go down into the dining hall where 
a large number of guests are present from various sections of the 
country, enjoying their mid-day meal. After dinner Uncle Jonas 
complained slightly of fatigue and it was thought best by Harry 
that they should remain in their room for at least a portion of the 
afternoon. 

THE FIRST SETTLERS. 

• ' The first settlers, Harry, in this vicinity located here about 
eighty-five years ago, and were from Philadelphia, Maryland, Dela- 
ware and Virginia. The first settler was Benjamin W. Morris, 
from Philadelphia. When it was a mere hamlet it was christened 
Wellsboro by Mrs. Mary Wells Morris, wife of the fli'st settler. 
Mrs. Morris was a sister of William and Gideon Wells, two early 



135 



settlers. In the year 1804 Tioga county was formed and in the 
year 1806 Wellsboro was selected as the county seat and has 
enjoyed the distinction ever since. But courts were not held here 
until about the year 1813. In the year 1830 WeUsboro was incor- 
porated, John Norris being elected the first burgess, or executive 
officer. At that time there were less than fifty families in the 
borough hmits. The great state road running westward from the 
county of Luzerne across the counties of Luzerne, Bradford, Tioga„ 
Potter, McKean and Warren, on the Allegheny river, was finished 
to Wellsboro about the year 180y. A few years prior to that date 
a highway had been cut out, which reaches southward from 
Wellsboro to Newberry, upon the west branch of the Susquehanna, 
near the present city of WiUiamsport. Its course was over hills 
and mountains, and it was much used by the early settlers, who 
did business southward at Northumberland, Harrisburg, Philadel- 
phia and Baltimore. It would hardly seem possible, Harry, that 
the early merchants of this town haiiled their merchandise with 
teams from Baltimore and Philadelphia, but it is true. 



WELLSBORO, PAST AND PRESENT. 



EARLY SETTLERS AND THEIR GRAND WORK — ENTERPRISING AND 
PROMINENT MEN OF TO-DAY. 

"Among the early settlers at Wellsboro were Benjamin W. 
Morris, John Norris, Samuel W. Morris, William Bache, sr., Wil- 
Uam Wells, Erastus Fellows, WilUam Eberentz, B. B. Smith, John 
F. Donaldson, F. Wetherbee, Ehas Spencer, J. L. Robinson, Israel 
Merrick, Gates Wilcox, Josiah Emery, James Locke, Dr. 0. L. Gib- 
son, E. M. Bodine, L. I. Nichols, Samuel Dickinson, J. Kimball, D. 
Caldwell, E. M. Bodine, David Linsey, Doctor Wells, Samuel Mack, 
Wilham Taylor, R. Christanot, who were residents here before the 
year 1835, or a httle over fifty years ago. Some of those, of course, 
had made Wellsboro their home at a much earlier date. Several 
of the prominent business men of to-day, among whom are Wil- 
liam Bache, Chester Robinson, J. L. Robinson, fifty years ago had 
just commenced their business career. The Robinsons are bankers 
now, but they were merchants and lumbermen then. But a large 
number of what might be termed now as old citizens located here 
about thirty or forty years ago. Wellsboro developed slowly but 
surely. Her growth was not rapid or phenomenal. It was an in- 
land town without any railroad facilities until the year 1872. You 
will observe. Uncle Jonas, that the dwellings and business places 
have a new and recently constructed appearance, although the 
shade trees along the streets and in the public square show that 
they have been planted many years. Several severe and destruc- 
tive fires occurred here, and many of the best structures in the 
town have been erected since the railroad was completed. The 
court house was erected fifty years ago, but the county offices of 
the register and recorder, prothonotary, county treasurer and 
sheriff's are of quite recent date, and reflect credit upon the county. 



136 

The court house is constructed of sand stone, which is pecuharly 
well adapted to building purposes. It has withstood the frosts and 
storms of fifty years and yet looks fresh and substantial. There is 
a large quantity of the same kind of sand rock only a few miles to 
the south of us. The first store was opened here by William 
Bache, sr., in the year 1812, although several citizens had joined 
previous to that date in purchasing goods by the wholesale in 
Northumberland and Philadelphia, hauling them here and then 
distributing them among the persons who had invested in the en- 
terprise. A few of the first settlers had taken the precaution to 
bring with them many of the necessaries of life to their wilderness 
home, and until a number of years had elapsed, and until stores of 
supphes were regularly established here, they had not exhausted 
their stores. Benjamin Wistar Morris was a Quaker and services 
in that faith were held in a log church or school house erected for 
that purpose. 

Early in the history of the settlement of this vicinity the Rev. 
Oaleb Boyer, a Methodist minister, located here. He came about 
the year 1802, when there were only fifteen Methodist ministers in 
the United States. As the settlement increased in dignity and im- 
portance the church organizations were made. The Episcopal 
church was formed in the year 1838, the Presbyterian in 1843 and 
the Baptist in 1868. In the year 18 lY an academy was located and 
established which flourished for many years. In the year 1834 
WeUsboro adopted the common free school system, and soon there- 
after took measures to erect suitable school buildings. The entex*- 
prise and pubUc spirit of its citizens in the cause of education re- 
sulted in the erection of a central school building in the year 1875, 
which cost $35,000. Prominent among the friends of that enter- 
prise were the Hon. Henry Sherwood, the Hon. H. W. WiUiams, 
the Hon. Jerome B. Niles, the Hon. M. F. EUiott, the Hon. John 
W. Bailey, the Hon. Hugh Young, the Rev. Dr. Charles Breck, 
the Rev. J. F. Calkins, the Rev. N. L. Reynolds, William Bache, 
James H. Bosard, Jerome B. Potter, the Hon. John I. Mitchell, 
the Hon. Stephen F. Wilson, J. L. Robinson, Chester Robinson. 
In fact it was a public thing in which almost the entire community 
took a deep interest. The completion of the railroad from Law- 
renceville to this point in the year 1872 brought in strangers, who 
located here and assisted in building up this beautiful village. It 
had the eft'ect to increase the value of real estate and whole farms 
were surveyed into town lots, readily sold and dwellings and busi- 
ness places erected thereon. For a few years the tendency was 
toward an extreme, and the hard times came on and checked 
temporarily the growth of the town. But she has rallied from the 
depression and new buildings of all kinds and description have 
been erected during the past year. Some of the them are very 
fine in architectural design, notably the new oi)era house across 
the way built by Robert C. Simpson, and elegantly arranged in all 
its appointments. 

"In the matter of the press, Uncle Jonas, WeUsboro has had 
many newspaper ventures. They have represented every pohtical 
party since 1828. There are now two republican and one demo- 
cratic newspaper pubhshed here. The Agitator is the oldest. It 



137 

was established in the year 1854 by M. H. Cobb, and has continu- 
ed as the organ of the i-epubhcan party. A few months 
ago another paper was estabhshed by the late Charles G. Fairman, 
entitled the Republican Advocate. The Agitator is now and has 
been for a number of years conducted very ably and profitably by 
Messrs. Barnes & Roy, and the Advocate by J. H. Maston, and 
edited with ability. The democraiic nevvsp;iper is the Wellsboro 
Gazette, and was estabhshed in the year l5l'4 by F. G. Churchill, 
of Ehnira. It is now owned and published by Messrs. Wright & 
Conevrey, Wellsboro may well feel proud of its press. Three 
better country newspapers can not be found in the state. In the 
year 1883 the Pine Creek and Jersey Shore railroad was completed 
and connections made with the Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim 
railroad at Stockdale Junction, as you observed to-day. This has 
afforded the citizens of this place a more direct route to WiUiams- 
port, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and intermediate points, and to re- 
ceive newspapers published in those cities at a much earlier date. 
It has enabled them to do business with the merchants and business 
men of southern Pennsylvania, interchange products and hold com- 
munication with the people of the southern portion of the state. 
Until that very important railroad connection was made, they were 
deprived of that pleasure." 

' ' I am rested now, Harry, and would Hke to take a walk about 
town." 

Harry and Uncle Jonas make ready and go out visiting, first the 
park, or public square. "Those grounds are tastefully laid out 
and much interest has been taken by the authorities in beautifying 
them and making them inviting. Wellsboro will soon have a fine 
system of water works, and fountains wiU be erected upon the 
square and seats will be provided where under the refreshing shade 
of the elm and maple the weary can find a place to sit and while 
away the hours in hot summer afternoons. A pagoda or band 
stand is already erected. It is also expected that a soldier's monu- 
ment will be placed upon these grounds in the very near future. 
The soldiers from Tioga county upon the battle fields of the south, 
during the late rebellion were many and wherever the union flag 
floated, there they were found defending it and bearing it onward 
to victory. A mihion dollars was raised by the Tioga county and 
township officials to send these gallent men to those gallent men to 
the front. Very many of them never returned. Others came 
home wounded, maimed, crippled and broken down physically, 
and it is very appropriate that some lasting memorial should be 
erected in recognition of their great services for the perpetuation 
of the union. 

" This fine building on the corner is owned by Henry Sherwood 
and Walter Sherwood, under the firm of Henry Sherwood & Son. 
They are prominent lawyers, and are officially connected with the 
Jersey Shore and Pine Creek railroad, the father being president 
and the son one of the directors. All these buildings until you 
reach the church on the corner are occupied by gentlemen of the 
legal profession. There is the office of Jeff Harrison, and near by 
are the offices of John W. Mather, Henry M. Foote, S. F. Chan- 
nell, A. J. Shattuck, General J. B. Niles & Son, Elliott & Watrous. 



138 

General Niles is connected as attorney and agent for the Pennsyl- 
vania joint land and lumber company, which really is the old 
Phelps, Dodge & Stokes estate. This firm or company in point of 
importance as regards the landed interest in Pennsylvania, stood 
second only to the Bingham estate and were among the greatest 
lumber manufacturers and dealers in the United States. Upon 
the east side of the public square standing back from the street 
and almost hidden by the shrubbery is the land office of the Bing- 
ham estate, which has for many years been represented by Robert 
C. Simpson, as agent or trustee. Mr. Simpson is a careful and 
sagacious gentleman, refined and polished, and ranks among the 
foremost citizens. He recently erected the fine opera house I 
pointed out to you and has been prominent in the council of Free 
Masons. You will be pleased to meet him and perhaps we shall 
before we leave the town. Let us walk up past his offica and take 
up towards 'Academy hill.' You discover, Uncle Jonas, that 
there are many cosy and elegant residences hid away among the 
groves. That large residence with those beautiful grounds is the 
residence of William Bache. The grade is too steep for you, Uncle 
Jonas, and we will not go any farther in this direction, but take 
this street west to Main street." They pass on their route up 
Main street many splendid homes, and advanced far enough to 
catch a view of the southwestern portion of the street, as it leads 
toward the Delmar hills. Many very fine residences adorn that 
portion of the town. Returning they walk leisurely along, ob- 
serving, not in an undignified manner, the very tasty, costly and 
fine dwehings. With mc^t carefully prepared grounds and excellent 
walks. They pass the ''Robinson store " which was subsequently 
used as a bank and which was burglarized September 16, 1S71, and 
over one hundred thousand dollars of currency and bonds carried 
of. Harry briefly explained the history of the transaction, how 
the family of Mr. Robinson were seized, bound and gagged and 
the cashier, Mr. Eugene Robinson, compelled to go and open up 
the vaults of the bank, and to witness the plundering of the same, 
and how the affair became known, pursuit made and several of the 
robbers overtaken, returned to Wellsboro, tried and convicted and 
sent to the penitentiary. Arriving at the county buildings they 
go in, and call on that veteran. General R. C. Cox, who for a num- 
ber of years has been the efiicient prothonotary of the county, and 
who did such gallant service in the union army during the rebelhon. 
The general, altliough among the bravest of the brave upon the 
field of battle, is very modest in regard to his own exploits. They 
also met his son Henry, who has been connected with the office 
for a long period. The general is a gallant old man, brave, civU, 
courteous and polite. They next visited the office of George C. 
Bowen, register and recorder. He has served the county in that 
capacity for a number of years and is a very competent official. 
The office of Captain Horton, county treasurer, was next visited. 
The captain did good service in the union army during the rebellion 
and is a very genial and companionable gentleman, as well as a 
competent and reliable officer. The finances of the county are 
in safe hands when Captam Horton holds the key, disbursing the 
funds with accuracy and keeping a straight record of the same. 



139 

They next visited the county commissioner's rooms, where, 
through the courtesy of WiUiam H. Baxter, one of the county 
commissioners, they were shown through the entire building, and 
witnessed the admirable and convenient manner which its fire 
proof vaults, cases, pigeon holes, heating and ventilating appara- 
tus was arranged and made. They met the recently elected sheriff 
Ferris, who kindly offered to show them through the jail. But Uncle 
Jonas declined, saying it was no pleasure to him to look at his fel- 
low-man in confinement and disgrace. They passed out of the 
office well pleased with their visit, and satisfied that the authorities 
of Tioga county, had provided a safe and convenient structure, 
wherein to keep their valuable records and those of its citizens. 
They next visited the court house and called on Judge Wilhams, 
whom they found in his chamber, industriously looking up refer- 
ence and authorities, but who found time to greet his callers with 
a hearty welcome. The judge has been about twenty years upon 
the bench, sixteen or more of which he has been president judge, 
a greater portion of the time called to preside in Tioga, Potter, 
McKean and Cameron counties. During these twenty years he 
has been called upon to decide some very important cases involving 
many intricate points and thousands of dollars. He has upon the 
whole given most excellent satisfaction to litigants, based upon 
his fairness and impartial decisions. Notwithstanding his labori- 
ous duties the judge is well preserved and the picture of health and 
contentment. He owns one of the finest residences in the town 
and is surrounded with very many of the comforts and luxuries of 
hf e, which he has well earned during a life of industry and sobriety. 
Thus far Uncle Jonas was delighted with his visit to Wellsboro. 
They leave the court house and call on the Hon. John I. Mitchell, 
United States Senator, who was home from Washington during 
the hoHday vacation. They are kindly received by the Senator 
and his law partner, the Hon. David Cameron. Harry had on a 
former occasion, when at Mitchells on the Tioga road, given a 
brief history of the Senator, who was born at that place and shall, 
therefore, not refer to him at length to-day. In their calls that 
afternoon they met the Hon. Stephen Wilson, G. W. Merrick, the 
Hon. B. B. Packer, Kobert K. Young, Walter Merrick, United 
States Bank Examiner Hugh Young, J. H. Matson, District At- 
torney ; Dr. W. W. Webb, Thompson and Shearer, Dr. M. L. 
Bacon, Charles C. Mather, a prominent merchant ; F. K. Wright, 
a leading business man ; John W. Bailey, CI. C. VanValkenburg, 
C. M. Osgood, L. A. Gardiner, Frank Hart, James R. Cole, of the 
Cole House ; Judge L. P. Williston, Squire Brewster, Judge 
Wheeler, I. M. Bodine, John R. Bowen, besides visiting the fire 
department rooms, the Odd Fellows and Masonic halls, thus put- 
ting in full time for the afternoon, and returning to the Wilcox 
House in time for supper. 

The evening was spent at their rooms at the hotel, where they 
were called upon by several old citizens, who related incidents con- 
nected with the early settlement of this vicinity and pleas- 
ant events which had taken place in the courts of the county, 
where important suits were tried, and the legal combats of the 
lawyers, the stupidity of the witnesses or jurors, and related many 



140 

amusing anecdotes concerning the hotels thronged with Htigants^ 
jui'ors and witnesses. There is always a certain atmosphere per- 
taining to county seats, especially if the county is large and thinly 
populated. Every county has a few eccentric characters who make 
it their business to attend every term of court, whether they have 
any business there or not. One of the callers on Uncle Jonas and 
Harry that evening was a certain judge who .sei-ved many years at 
the bar of Tioga county as a lawyer, and who also was a number 
of years upon the bench, been a member of both Houses of the 
State of Pennsylvania, and served two terms in Congress. He had, 
therefore, been much in public life, had marked and could tell 
many ludicrous scenes in court, in the legislature and in Congress 
with a grace equaled by few. This judge, when the conversatfbn 
turned to the old court scenes, refreshed his memory and for two 
hours kept Uncle Jonas' face bathed in tears from his immoderate 
laughter, caused by the judge's recital of his stories concerning the 
bench and the bar. At some future time we may write them out 
for the benefit of the readers of the Daily and Weekly Advertiser, 
but for the present we must be excused as Uncle Jonas and Harry 
must go to Antrim to-morrow, and the next day visit Williams- 
port. Uncle Jonas begins to need a little quiet rest at Harry's 
home in Elmira. He has been six months tx)-day upon the road 
visiting and talking, and notwithstanding he insists that he enjoys 
it. After we make this tour, which it will take five or six num- 
bers to write up, we wiU give the old gentleman rest until spring 
time. 



VVELLSBORO TO ANTRIM. 



THE COAL INDUSTRY. — FAVORITE RESORT EOR EXCURSION PARTIES, 



Through the courtesy of a friend. Uncle Jonas and Harry were 
taken into a carriage and driven out by the residence of Dr. M. L. 
Bacon, the pubhc school building, thence back to Main street 
and as far north as the summer residence of Hon. Henry Sher- 
wood, passing among other residences those of A. Hardt, chief 
engineer for the Fall Brook Coal Company, Fred. K. Wright, Mrs. 
Silas X. Billings, Walter Sherwood, Charles C. Mather and Capt. 
Niles. Eeturning they visit the agricultural fair grounds which 
are annually made more attractive and convenient, and also the 
beautiful city of the dead which is so carefully guarded by those 
whose friends are therein entombed The remains of those most 
prominent in the affairs of Wellsboro through all stages of its early 
settlements are resting therein. It is a historic spot and well do 
the citizens of WeUsboro honor themselves when they exhibit so 
much interest in the care of their dead. From the cemetery they 
were driven to the depot, where by good luck they found an extra 
train about to depart for Antrim and soon they were speeding 
away upon the Charleston Creek railroad into the Charleston 
mountains — passing the Tioga County Poor House, one of the 



141 

county's most deserving institutions. Eound top is at last reached 
— not that one made famous in the great battle at Gettysburg, but 
the peaceful round top of Charleston township in Tioga county, 
where flocks and herds graze undisturbed by wars or rumors of 
wars. We can look behind us and see Wellsboro nestled in the 
valley below us — her church spires gleaming in the sun and her 
dwellings and public buildings looking as fresh upon this winter's 
morning as if she had taken a bath in a May day stream. Dr. 
Charles H. Williams, son of Judge Williams, was on board and 
entertained Uncle Jonas and Harry very much by his description 
of mountain scenery in various portions of the United States and 
Canada. The doctor is possessed of fine artistic taste and rare skill 
in the use of the pencil, crayon and brush. 

""Here we are at the Summit and wiU soon begin to descend 
towards Antrim by what is known in railroad circles as "back 
switching." These, Uncle Jonas, are the same as those at FaU 
Brook, which I then explained to you. The engine has left us and 
we are descending by gravity. Just watch Conductor John Wilson 
and see how carefully he manipulates the brakes. He is serving 
in the triple capacity of engineer, brakeraan and conductor. He 
is responsible for the safe deUvery of this car at Antrim and trusts 
no one to do his work. He has been upon the road ever since it 
was opened in 1872, and had been employed a number of years be- 
fore that time between FaU Brook and Corning and between Corn- 
ing and Watkins on the Erie and Northern Central roads. Look, 
Uncle, we are rounding the point and presently Antrim will be in 
view. Cast your eye to the westward and peer down into that 
chasm many feet below and see the siream dashing over the rocks 
and hurrying on to the Chesapeake bay. There is a hamlet down 
there in that narrow valley known as Sand Eun. A few years ago 
these mountain sides were covered with an enormous growth of 
hemlock timber, which has been cut down for the lumber and bark 
it aiforded." "Is that Antrim, Harry, with its many painted 
dwellings, stores, churches and school buildings. " ' ' Yes, Uncle 
Jonas." "Well, I expected to see a different town, one covered 
with coal dust, grim and smoky, and a lot of irregular tenements. 
lam happily surprised I " "We will continue on down to those 
coal schutes and then reverse and ghde down to the depot, which 
you see near that fine stone church. There we will alight, walk 
down by the company's office and store, and a little further on we 
will find the Antrim hotel, whose proprietor is Mr. James D. Fish, 
son of ex-Sherift: Fish of this county. We will be kindly received 
there and well provided for." 

The hotel being reached the travelers are conducted to a cosy 
room and soon dinner is announced. After dinner they walk down 
to the schutes where the coal is received from the mines in small 
cars and shipped into larger standard guage coal dumps and gon- 
dolas varying in capacity from six to twenty tons or more. From 
this point, Uncle Jonas and Harry obtain a view of the valley in 
which Hoytville, which they visited some weeks ago, is situated. 
It is at least a thousand feet lower than Antrim. These towns are 
only about three miles distant from each other — one located in the 
valley, and the center of a great tanning and lumbering industry, 



142 

and the other located upon a mountain about eighteen hundred 
feet above tide and an extensive mining town. 

** Were it not, Uncle Jonas, for the pleasure of going down on 
the Jersey Shore and Pine Creek from Ansonia to Blackwells, we 
could go down to Hoytville by stage and from there to Blackwell, 
a distance of about five miles, and thus save many miles of circui- 
tous travel, but we shall have a fine trip through this picturesque 
country." 

The travelers retrace their steps to the hotel and from thence to 
the company's store, presided over by W. W. Forest, assisted by a 
competent corps of clerks. They also visited the office of the man- 
ager and paymaster and met Mr. William Howell, jr., the manager, 
and Messrs. James B. Howell and Samuel Heron, chief clerk and 
paymaster, also James Pollock, the resident civil and mining en- 
gineer. It was pay day and they saw many of the employes of 
the company. Work had been good for the past three months, 
and the miners and other emplo3^es had made full and some of 
them extra time, and were consequently much encoin-aged. Many 
of the miners' wives or daughters came to the pay counter and 
received the amount due their husbands or fathers for the reason 
that the men were at work and did not choose to lose any time. 

After Uncle Jonas and Harry had taken a circuit of the town, 
they returned to the hotel and talked over the history of the town, 
from the facts gleaned from the old citizens : 

"The first explorations for coal were made where the village of 
Antrim is now situated, in the year 18G6, by Thomas Farrar and 
John Smith, in the interest of the Fall Brook Coal Company. 
These explorations resulted in the purchase of several thousand 
acres of land by the company, then an unbroken wilderness. In 
the year 1867 Titus Drainsfield moved his family into a shanty 
which had previously been used as a shelter for the explorers. He 
was therefore the first settler who pinned his faith in the perma- 
nent development of the place, and took up his abode in this 
mountainous country several miles distant from the habitation of 
men. Steps w^ere immediately taken after the land had been pur- 
chased, to construct a railroad from Lawrenceville, by way of 
Tioga, Middlebury, Niles Valley and Wellsboro to these lands, 
which was consummated in the year 1872. In December, 1867, 
Humphries Brewer, who was one of the reliable men of the FaU 
Brook Coal Company, who had been their chief engineer, both 
civil and mining, as well as manager, died. He was one of the 
principal officers in the new contemplated road. Hon. John Magee 
died a few months after, in the year 1868, and Duncan S. Magee 
one year later. Duncan S. Magee, however, in the year 1868, with 
a party of friends, among wiiom were Hon. Daniel E. Howell, of 
Bath, Gen. George J. Magee, John Lang, C. C. B. Walker, A. H. 
Gorton, John Magee, jr., Anton Hardt, John Smith, Thomas Far- 
rar, Charles Crawford, S. S. Ellsworth, R. F. Cummings and James 
Hoffman visited the mine and christened it 'Antrim.' Contempo- 
raneous with the building of the railroad was the erection of a saw 
mill, a store and offices, dwellings and schutes, so that by the time 
the raih'oad was finished the mines were opened and coal ready for 
shipment. Among those who assisted at the opening of the mines- 



143 

and the founding of the town were : Thomas Farrer, Thomas 
Gaffney, Charles Prothero, Titus Drainsfield, John Hinman, Chas. 
Hinman, Charles Hoff, William B. James, David J. Davis, Thomas 
Burton, Samuel Strong, James Ketcham, E. H. Tremain, W. W. 
Lownsberry, William E. Butts, Isaac S. Marshall, David Cooper, 
Joseph Murray, D. D. Holliday, Jerry Austin, L. J. Stothoff, John 
Forrest, Theodore P. Whiting, D. M. Edwards, Andrew K. Fletcher, 
Michael Keating, Thomas McMahon, James Gardiner and James 
Gaffney, who were assigned various parts in the work, and who 
performed it equally well. In the year 1873, at the December term, 
the township of Duncan, which included the village of Antrim, 
was formed and an election authorized to be held for township 
officers in February following, and Thomas Gaffney and E. H. 
Tremain appointed commissioners to hold said election. The elec- 
tion was held February IT, 1874, and resulted in the selection of 
Thomas Gaffney and E. H. Tremain as supervisors ; Isaac S. Mar- 
shall and J, Shumway were chosen justices of the peace ; W. W. 
Lownsberry, constable ; William E. Butts, assessor ; a school board 
consisting of David Cooper, A. Lake, Dr. E. George, William P. 
Thomas, Joseph Murray ; town treasurer, John Hinman ; Thomas 
Farrar, Charles G. Hinman, George W. Eice, auditors ; town 
clerk, W. W. Forest ; judge of election, Jerry Austin ; inspectors 
of election, D. D. Holhday and Charles Prothero. Schools were 
opened, churches were organized, lodges were instituted, and every 
one went to work with a will to build up a community possessing 
a large number of the advantages enjoyed by older towns, and you 
can see. Uncle Jonas, to-day, how much progress they have made 
in a little over ten years since the township of Duncan was incor- 
porated." 

"It is impossible, Uncle Jonas, to relate to you in our brief visit 
many little incidents which have occurred in the building up of 
such a town as this. There are many things which I shaU be 
obliged to omit for want of time. But I trust I have given you a 
fair idea of it. This is one of the most orderly and law-abiding 
towns in northern Pennsylvania, and will in time become a great 
summer resort, on account of its pure and bracing air and the most 
excellent springs of water. This town has already become famous 
as a point for excursions for the people living on the line of this 
Corning, Cowanesque and Antrim railroad, and the Syracuse, 
Geneva and Corning road. To those who have always lived in the 
farming districts of Steuben, Yates, Schuyler and Ontario counties 
in New York, it is a great novelty to them to come up here, look 
the town over, take their dinners at this hotel or bring their lunch 
baskets with them, and go into the mines which penetrate for miles 
beneath these mountains; then to witness the mode of mining, and 
see what a skillful yet laborious process it is, pleases those farmers 
and business men more than a trip to New York or the sea side. 
I believe. Uncle Jonas, the most delighted excursion party I ever 
met came here several years ago from those counties to which I 
have just referred. Those little trains hauled by mules, dashing 
through the subterranean railroads, guided by a drive)- with a 
coffee-pot lamp, with the rattle of cars in those dark avenues, gave 
them great enjoyment. In fact, they were captivated by the 



144 

excitement. I sat quietly in my seat in the car on their return 
home and hstened to their exclamations of delight and pleasure. 
It is not the country people alone who take delight in visiting the 
mines, but students and scientists, and highly-educated and refined 
people are yearly increasing in numbers, who wish to visit this 
town. There are many valuable things to be learned here. Then 
there is no danger connected with it. It is not like going down a 
thousand feet or more into the anthracite coal pits filled with nox- 
ious and inflammable gases. There is no more danger in going into 
these mines here, either drawn by a small locomotive or a mule, 
than there is in riding on a first class narrow guage railroad. There 
is nothing connected with a ride into these mines to frighten the 
most timid." 

"I had expected, Uncle Jonas, that we would remain here over 
night, but I am told that it will be better for us to go back to 
Wellsboro with Conductor Wilson now, as it is uncertain whether 
we can reach Wellsboro by train in the morning." 

As they were going to the depot, through the politeness of Mr. 
William Howell, they were shown into Trinity church, a fine edifice 
erected through the munificence of John Magee, jr., and made of 
cut stone taken from the quarries in the vicinity of Antrim. It is 
a durable and costly structure and will long remain as a monument 
to his generosity. Trinity church was organized July 24th, 1872, 
through the instrumentality of Kev. Charles Breck, of Wellsboro, 
assisted by such churchmen as John Hinman, Thomas Gaffney 
and others. John Magee, jr., died quite suddenly of pneumonia at 
Watkins, N. Y., April 26, 1873, aged 29 years. 

The time having arrived for the train to start, Uncle Jonas and 
Harry stepped on board. They arrived safely at Wellsboro and 
Avere driven to their former quarters at the Wilcox House. 



PINE CREEK AND JERSEY SHORE. 



A TRIP THROUGH A DELIGHTFUL VALLEY TO WILLIAMSPORT. 

" Well, Uncle Jonas, this is rousing us up pretty early ; but then 
we will try and accommodate ourselves to the circumstances. 
Passengers must be ready when the time arrives for the trains to 
depart or they must remain over until the next train, is the prin- 
ciple, and a very good one too, that is enforced in this railroad age." 

In due time Unci 3 Jonas and Harry are seated comfortably in 
the excellent upholstered cars of the Williamsport fast line, and 
are conveyed at the rate of forty miles an hour down the valley of 
Marsh Creek. This is a very sluggish stream, that winds around 
in the valley between the mountains, its descent to Pine Creek be- 
ing only about one foot to the mile. On the side of the mountains 
rocks project, which indicate the out-croppings of the coal 
measure. 

Several hamlets and lumber districts, through which they are 
rapidly whirled are known as Leach's, Matson's and Marsh Creek. 
Then Ansonia is reached where the railroad first enters the valley 



145 

of Pine Creek. At this latter station, the train halts for several 
minutes to take on passengers who have come down the valley 
from the townships of Shippen, Gaines and the eastern townships 
of Potter county. 

''Ansonia, formerly known as the 'Manchester Farm,' about 
forty -five years ago was the center of a great lumber industry, which 
was conducted by the late Hezekiah Stowell, Phelps & Dodge, 
Judge Eobert G. White, Scovil & Babcock and many others. Mills 
and lumber camps were scattered all along Pine Creek from this 
point up into Potter county, a distance of fifteen or twenty miles. 
The parties named here had extensive mills, as well as others higher 
up the stream. There were the Furmans, Rexfords, BiUings, 
Phenix and others who had mills also and manufactured lumber 
extensively. There, an idea has occurred to me while speaking of 
those localities above here on Pine Creek, that next spring when 
the trout season opens we will take a trip up the valley from here 
and look over the ground I have mentioned, and visit the locality 
where your old friend Silas Billings, father of Silas X. Billings, 
fifty years or more ago was so extensively engaged in business." 

" I think that would be a good plan Harry, for I am informed 
that there are many points of interest in that direction." 

" Josiah Furman was the first settler in this locality in the year 
1804. He came up from Northumberland in a boat, and soon after 
planted several oi-chards, the trees being also conveyed here in a 
boat propelled by hand pov/er up the stream. While lumbering 
was going on here so extensively, a little church was erected on 
the banks of Marsh Creek, and a grave yard laid out adjoining it. 
Many of the old settlers of this locality are buried there." 

"But, Uncle Jonas, before the timber was exhausted in this 
locahty a company was formed at Williarasport which constructed 
a great boom, and proposed to make Williamsport the great man- 
ufacturing center for lumber for the West Branch of the Susque- 
hanna and its tributaries above that point. In that project they 
succeeded to a large extent. Millions of feet of saw logs are now 
cut in this region and above here on Pine Creek, w^hich are floated 
in the log to Wilhamsport, safely secured in their capacious boom 
and then manufactured into lumber, lath, shingles and kindling 
wood. The signal has been given and away we will go down into 
this great Pennsylvania canon." 

PIKE CREEK CANYON. 

The waters of Pine Creek and the railroad occupy every inch of 
available space betw-een the mountains for a distance of about six- 
teen miles. The course is not a straight one by any means. At 
every revolution of the driving wheel of the locomotive it seems as 
if it was departing upon a different tangent, although, strange as 
it may seem, the rails are laid upon the highest principles known 
to the most experienced civil engineers, and no unpleasant feeling- 
is realized by the passenger, as he whirls along at a rapid rate. 
Nor would he be cognizant of the fact that he v/as traveling in 
such a serpentine course if he did not observe objects through the 
car window or rear door of the hindmost coach. The passenger 
experiences no different sensations than he does over an ordinary 



146 

road. But the views are grand, surpassingly grand. Here the 
waters of Pine Creek almost in reach of the hand from the car 
window, while fifty feet westward across the stream is a mountain 
which towers a thousand feet above the passing train, its sides de- 
nuded of timber, huge rocks projecting outward over which dashes 
a silvery stream of water, running, leaping, falling with a thous- 
and sprays over the coach and mto the larger stream. Then 
again, another and larger stream is seen dashing down through 
miniature gorges, running rampant, and by a series of cascades 
and waterfalls it reaches the famous Tiadaghton or Pine Creek. 
Or again, the traveler observ^es water, whtch in summer time, 
drips down the mountain side, but in winter is congealed, and 
huge icicles formed in every conceivable shape are suspended, 
which glitter in the sunlight like pohshed silver. Then again huge 
forest trees are seen standing upon projecting rocks, their roots 
bare but still chnging to the rock with the tenacity of a leech, their 
half dead and half alive branches swayed by the wind which 
sweeps sometimes with gi-eat fury along this grand and awe-in- 
spiring canyon. Such is a 1 ref description of the route for sixteen 
miles through which the Pine Creek and Jersey Shore Railroad,, 
now controlled or leased by the Fall Brook Coal Company. 

For years this mountain chasm stood as an insurmountable bar- 
rier in the way of constructing a railroad to the northward from 
the West Branch of the Susquehanna up Pine Creek to the north- 
ern tier counties of Pennsylvania. And so it would have remained 
for years had not General George J. Magee, Henry Sherwood and 
the late William H. Vanderbilt took the matter in hand, and by 
their skill and that of their coadjutors and assistants — wealth and 
perseverance — demonstrated that a railroad could be constructed, 
which would form a great connecting link with the Corning, Cow- 
anesque and Antrim, the Syracuse, Geneva and Corning and the 
New York Central and Hudson River Railroads, over which mil- 
hons of tons of coal, lumber and other freight could be transported, 
as well as thousands of passengers. 

The stations along this mountain canon are Darling Run, Four- 
Mile Run, Tiadaghton and Rail Island. At Blackwell's the road 
opens into a broader valley. At this point a considerable stream 
flows into Pine Creek known as Babbs Creek. Pine Creek is here 
crossed by the railroad by a substantial iron structure, 

" At Blackwells, Uncle Jonas, is where the half-breed French 
and Indian chief one hundred and fifty years ago had his mountain 
home, and cotemporaneously with Shikelemy, watched and guard- 
ed this pass and retreat, while Shikelemy held sway about the 
confluence of the north branch of the Susquehanna, with the west 
branch at Northumberland. When the ancestors of Enoch Black- 
well, after whom this station is named, came here nearly ninety 
years ago, there were still remaining portions of that old Indiam 
town, and Mr. BlackwcU has shown me relics of a French and In- 
dian character, which he found at this point and which he still 
preserves. Implements which were evidently made in France, 
conveyed to Canada, while it was yet a French province and from 
there distributed to the Indians of the Six Nations. Tiadaghton is 
said, by weU authenticated tradition, French and American his 



147 

tory, to have been a Canadian half breed, whose father left France, 
want to Canada and married an Indian princess. Tiadaghton was 
the Tall Pine of the upper waters of the Susquehanna, fearless in 
the chase, brave in battle and skilled in travel and Indian diplo- 
macy. His dominion extended west to the AUeghany and to the 
Ohio line and as far north as Presque Isle." 

The romantic scenery along the route does not by any means 
terminate at Blackwells, but extends along the entire line until 
the traveler reaches Williamsport. Uncle Jonas and Harry pass 
Woodhouse, a small station, and are soon at the mouth of Cedar 
Eun, when Harry briefly related that it was at the head waters of 
Cedar Run that Silas Bilhngs, the senior, about forty years ago 
erected a steam saw mill in the wilderness, cutting a road from 
Gaines up Elk Run, over a high mountain and descending again 
into a smaU valley through which Cedar Run flowed, and also con- 
structed a plank road, nine miles in length, over which to trans- 
port his lumber to Pine Creek. He also stated that the village of 
Leetonia, where a large tannery is situated, is located upon lands 
formerly owned by Mr. Billings. They have now entered the 
county of Lycoming, and the valley of Pine Creek gradually begins 
to widen, and farms and farm houses are more frequently seen. A 
number of flag stations are passed, when the train halts for a mo- 
ment at Waterville, and again dashes onward towards Jersey 
Shore. Evidences of thrift and plenty are observable upon either 
side. The stations of Ramsey, Tombs Run, Safe Harbor, tiarris, 
Jersey Shore Junction afe passed, when the train arrives on time 
at Jersey Shore; one of the oldest towns upon the upper waters of 
the West Branch. They are now in the broad, beautiful and rich 
vaUey of the west branch of the Susquehanna. This is a valley 
replete with historical events, which it would take volumes to re- 
hearse, and which would require the skilled pen of a Maginnis, a 
Watson or a Lloyd to portray. But we will say in passing that 
Jersey Shore was incorporated in the year 1826, and while its pro- 
gress has been slow in point of population, it has continued to in- 
crease in wealth and in the strong, substantial character of its citi- 
zens. It has recently received a great impetus to its prosperity by 
the construction of the Jersey Shore and Pine Creek railroad, and 
the Beech Creek, Clearfield & South Western railroad. 

" If it were possible, Uncle Jonas," remarked Harry, "I would 
gladly spend months along this valley with you talking over ' by 
gones' and referring to the very many distinguished men and 
women who have lived and are now living in this valley. My 
object in having you visit this locality, was for the purpose of 
viewing it to-day, not through the eyes of retrospection." " Well, 
Harry, I was familiar with this valley many years ago, before the 
West Branch canal was constructed, and soon after the Newberry 
■and Coudersport turnpike was built. There were no railroads 
ithen. The population was comparatively small at Williamsport, 
tat Newberry, and at this place. West at the mouth of the Bald 
Eagle, my old friends, the Dunns and Hannas lived, and I would 
prefer now, Harry, to enter this valley, view its prosperity, ob- 
serve its public improvements, note its industrial establishments, 
its public and private buildings, and mark the general character- 



148 



istics of its present population." Wliile Harry and Uncle Jonas 
were engaged in the foregoing conversation several stations had 
been passed and they w^ere approaching Wilhamsport at a rapid 
rate. In due time they reached Wilhamsport and were safely 
•domiciled at the Hepburn house. 



WILLIAMSPORT. 



After resting and refreshing themselves, the travelers went out 
and called on Mr. Maginnis, of the Gazette and Bulletin, with 
whom they spent a few minutes verv pleasantly. Thev also called 
on Ex-Mayor William F. Logan, Col. F. E. Embick, Mr. Prior, of 
the Lumberman's Exchange, who gave them the statistics of lum- 
ber, lathe, shingles, etc., manufactured during the year 1885, which 
aggregated several hundred million feet. They also called at the 
Sun and Banner office, went into the Lycoming county court 
house, a splendid structure, and then took a carriage and were 
driven about the town, calhng on Edgar Munson, Esq., an exten- 
sive lumberman and manufacturer, and from thence over to 
Fourth street, as fine a street as any inland city of the state can 
boast of, skirted with elegant and palatial mansions. They passed 
by the Episcopal church, erected by Williamsport's former distin- 
^•uished busmess man, Peter Herdic, and had the pleasure of meet- 
mg that irrepressible gentleman, whom no reverse in fortune can 
put down, and who is always buoyant under the most disastrous 
circumstances. They rode around to the Park Hotel, formerly 
known as the Herdic House, and made the acquaintance of its 
genial Scotch landlord, and after having been driven about the 
city for two hours or more, returned to the Hepburn House. Dur- 
ing the evening they had the pleasure of meeting the Hon. H. H. 
Cummin, president judge of Lycoming county, the Hod. John J. 
Metzger, tbe Hon. Theodore Hill, Ex-Mayor S. S. Starkweather, 
and others, and a little later dropped in again into the Lumber- 
man's Exchange, and met many of the active lumbermen of the 
city and heard the outlook of the lumber trade discussed, and the 
future destiny of Wilhamsport. 

From what they had seen during the day and learned from rep- 
resentative business men of various occupations, they were favor- 
ably impressed with the city of Wilhamsport as it is now, and of 
its "bright prospects for the future. It now contains a population 
of twenty-five thousand, is provided with extraordinary railroad 
facilities, and all the social, religious and educational advantages 
which any community could desire. Its press is well conducted 
and seems to be well sustained, its banking privileges are ample, 
the means of obtaining cheap rates of transportation are more than 
ordinary, and with the prospect of other manufacturing companies 
locating there, in addition to what it already possesses, it would 
seem that Williamspoit^s future were bright. What adds more 
force to this conclusion is the public spirit manifested by its citi- 
zens of every vocation. 

Of course the chronic grumbler inhabits Wilhamsport as well as 
any other city or town, who is disposed to detract from the public 
spirit of its citizens, by cynical and objectionable remarks. Of this 
latter spirit they observed that Wilhamsport was comparatively 



149 

free, and on the other hand the spirit of progress seemed to per- 
vade the community and they were disposed to look on the bright 
side. They were told, " we are going to have a large and expen- 
sive postoffice, with chambers for the holding of United States 
courts." ''We are going to have many new industrial establish- 
ments, and other levers to prosperity." This seemed the spirit 
that manifested itself everywhere, and such a spirit as this pre- 
vailing we reassert that the future of WilHamsport is secure. 



WILLIAMSPORT TO ELMIRA. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY ALONG THE NORTHERN 

CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

Uncle Jonas and Harry decided to return to Elmira by the way 
of the Northern Central railroad — one of the well-managed and 
equipped first-class roads that lead from the south, northward 
through the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York to 
Elmira, Watkins, Penn Yan, Canandaigua, Rochester, Niagara 
Falls and Buffalo, and which is run and managed in harmony 
with the interest of the Pennsylvania railroad company, and one 
of its great trunk or branch lines. Its initial point is Baltimore. 
It follows up the grand old valley of the Susquehanna to Harris- 
burg, Dauphin, Halifax to Sunbury, and from that point it uses 
the track of the Philadelphia & Erie, passing through Milton, Wat- 
sontown, Muncy, in the valley of the west branch of the Susque- 
hanna to Williamsport. At Wilhamsport it leaves the west branch 
valley and continues northward up the vaUey of the L3''coming 
through Cogan vaUey, Trout Run, Ralston, Roaring Branch, 
Canton, Alba, Troy to Elmira, and from that city northward, as 
we have stated, to Rochester, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and the lakes. 
It is well officered and equipped, and its rolling stock is in most ad- 
mirable condition, its trainmen sldUed in then- work and gentle- 
manly in their deportment, and courteous and attentive to 
passengers. 

At about eight o'clock Uncle Jonas and Harry bid good-bye to 
mine host of the Hepburn house, and step into a street car which 
passes the hotel door, and are soon at the depot, a large and sub- 
stantial brick edifice which is used by the Philadelphia & Erie 
railroad company, as well as the Northern Central. Admirable 
arrangements are made by the officials in charge, that no passen- 
ger take the wrong train. The doors fronting the railroad are 
kept locked, except when trains are arriving and departing, and the 
officer in charge calls out the stations to which the train is destined, 
unlocks the door, and personally directs the passenger which car 
to take a seat in. When this system was first introduced, early in 
the history of the road, there were a great many people who ob- 
jected to its adoption and enforcement, and particularly the lumber- 
men and raftmen who had come down the river from the upper 
waters of the West Branch, and who did not hke the idea of having 
the front doors locked and the gate fastened so that they could not 



150 

SO out and promenade at theii' leisure up and down the depot plat- 
form. For several years the regulation was looked upon with very 
great disfavor by those who did not relish the idea of "being 
fenced and locked in," and many imprecations were hurled at the 
officers who enforced the rule. In time the people became familiar 
with the regulation and acquiesced in it, believing it conducive to 
the safety of the traveler who is not familiar with the trains, and 
a preventive of mistakes by those who are hable to take the train 
which runs in a different direction from that which they desire 
to go. 

At the proper time the doors were unlocked and Uncle Jonas and 
Harry stepped aboard of the train headed for Elmira, with many 
pleasing thoughts concerning the sprightly lumber city of Wiliams- 
port. After they were comfortably seated and were rolling along 
up the valley of the Lycoming at the rate of forty-five miles per 
hour, Uncle Jonas reminded Harry of the contrast between the 
«peed they were maldng then, and that made by the thousands of 
raftsmen, who forty and fifty years ago, thronged this valley in 
the "rafting season." "This was the route," said Uncle Jonas, 
" which the raftsmen took wlien on their return from a trip down 
from the Chemung, Conhocton, Canisteo, Tioga and Cowanesque 
rivers. At first, away back in the years 1820, '25, '30 and '35, 
the raftsmen were obliged to walk most of the way from tide 
water to the upper waters of all the branches of the Susque- 
hanna. It was a long and tedious tramp, and yet the men 
seemed to enjoy it, or did not complain very much even when their 
feet were blistered and their ankles chafed by the friction of their 
coarse, strong boots. I have seen half a regiment of raftmen 
leave Williamsport and turn their footsteps northward over the 
very ground that we are traveling now, clothed in rough apparel, 
with bundles of goods slung over their shoulders upon a stick, pur- 
chases that were made in Baltimore, Wrightsville, Columbia, Har- 
risburg and Northumberland, which they were carrying to their 
homes away up, perhaps, to the head of the Canisteo, near the 
present populous town of Hornellsville, or to Elkland and Knox- 
ville on the Cowanesque, or to Covington, Mansfield, Tioga and 
Lawrenceville, or to Bath, Painted Pos,t Big Flats or Elmira on 
the Chemung. Those bundles might contain a new dress or shawl 
for the wife or daughter, or some souvenir of the good will of that 
hardy class. By and by the Pennsylvania and North and West 
branch canals were dug, and a ' horse railroad ' was built from 
Williamsport to Trout Kun, and the lumbermen and raftsmen had 
fewer miles to walk. But then some took the trip on foot, claim- 
ing that they could not afford to ride and that they could earn 
good wages by w^alking." 

Cogan Station has been passed and they arrive at Trout Eun, a 
small village about fourteen miles distant from Williamsport. 
This village contains about three hmidred inhabitants and is quite 
^n industrial center for lumbering and extracting of tanning 
liquids, etc. "It was at this place, Harry, the old raftsmen left 
the valley of the Lycoming and ascended Trout Kun, crossed the 
summit of the Laurel Ridge mountain and followed the Williamson 
road to the Block house, and from thence down to Blossburg, near 



151 

the head of the Tioga valley. A few years later the primitive rail- 
road was completed about ten miles farther up to Ralston, and 
soon after a new path was cut across the mountains, which left 
the Lycoming valley at Roaring Branch. This was known as the 
' Yankee path,' and also terminated at Blossburg. When three or 
four hundred of these raftsmen took to this narrow path that led 
up the mountain side through the forests, ascending higher and 
higher until an altitude of over two thousand feet were obtained, 
carrying miscellaneous bundles, halloing, shouting and singings 
they were indeed a wild and boisterous crew. I am not, Harry, 
losing sight of the grand scenery along this road — those towering 
mountains, covered with a great growth of timber, while the rocks, 
denuded of soil, stand out in terraces, and distinctly outlining the 
outcroppings of the semi-bituminous coal measures of Lycoming, 
so closely allied to those of southern Tioga and Bradford. Nor 
have I neglected to note, as we flew rapidly by, the many pleasant 
homes, nor failed to keep in sight the Lycoming, with its ever 
varying course as it flows through meadows, leaps over dams 
which the hand of man has placed in its way, for the purpose of 
utilizing its power in turning the wheel, and making the hum of 
industry resound through this valley. Nor have I failed to observe 
the secluded spot, underneath those willows and alders, where the 
speckled trout delights to dwell. All these things, Harry, have 
not escaped my attention, notwithstanding I have been speaking of 
other matters." 

Ralston is at length reached, twenty-four miles north of Wil- 
liamsport and two hundred and two miles from Baltimore. Ralston 
is a little hamlet with an excellent hotel, which in summer time is 
usually filled with guests from the south, who desire to enjoy the 
hunting and fishing in the vicinity, but more especially to obtain 
quiet and rest and breathe the pure mountain air of that locahty. 
About a half mile distant is another small hamlet, known as. 
Melntyre. At this place they observe the Mclntyre plane, whose 
base is on the level with the Northern Central railroad, and whose 
summit is about one thousand feet higher. It connects with the 
semi-bituminous coal mines which are located on the top of the 
mountain, but which are not visible from the window of the car 
on the Northern Central. "For a number of years. Uncle Jonas, 
mining was carried on at Mclntyre extensively. The village at 
the mines contained twelve or fifteen hundred inhabitants, but 
now is almost entirely deserted and its former inhabitants are mostly 
residents of Clearfield county. Passengers on the Northern Cen- 
tral, thousands of them, from time to time, have watched with 
great interest the descent and ascent of coal cars upon the Mclntyre 
plane. A powerful engine was located upon the summit to control 
the force acquired by gravity of the loaded cars on their descent, 
to haul up the unloaded coal cars or full freight cars. Two tracks 
were used; one for those going up the incline and for those descend- 
ing. It was a very interesting sight to witness." Uncle Jonas 
spoke of Matthew C. Ralston, Esq., of Philadelphia, and his en- 
gineer, WiUiam P. Farrand, who nearly fifty years ago were prom- 
inent in the construction of the railroad from Williamsport to Rals- 
ton, which in 1854 became a portion of the Elmira and WiUiams- 



152 

port railroad, and later passing into the control of the present com- 
pany. 

Our travelers are now thirty miles or more from the mouth of 
the Lycoming, where it discharges its waters into the West Branch 
near Williamsport, Iron ore is found in that locality to a consid- 
erable extent, and a number of furnaces were at one time in blast- 
in the valley. Every revolution of the car wheels since they left 
Williamsport has been propelhng them higher and higher ab.^ve 
sea level. The Lycoming, which at first was a respectable river in 
size, is now only an ordinary creek, but noisy and saucy as a petted 
child. Roaring Branch is reached, a village of four or five hun- 
dred inhabitants, a portion of which is located in Lycoming county, 
and another portion in Tioga county. Lumbering is cai-ried on to 
a considerable extent. At this point the Lycoming receives its last 
prominent tributary of its upper waters. Five or six miles farther 
to the Lycoming has disappeared from the valley and is only traced 
in rivulets as they hide themselves away in the meadows and hills. 

Carpenter's and Groover, two lively villages are passed, and 
Canton, one of the important stations on the line between Wil- 
hamsport and Elmira is reached, distant two hundred and eighteen 
miles from Baltimore. The dividing line which separates the 
watars of the Lycoming flowing southward, and Towanda creek 
flowmg eastward, has been passed. Canton is beautifully situated 
upon undulating grounds with the Armenia mountain towering 
one thousand feet above it on the west, and sheltering it from the 
violent west winds of winter. Its elevation above tide is twelve 
hundred and sixty-one feet, and with a drainage tending east- 
ward and northward, its sanitary condition cannot fail to be 
everything that is desirable. It is a most desirable place for a sum- 
mer residence. Miss Fanny Davenport and Frank Mayo have 
elegant cottages at Canton. 

Canton contains about two thousand inhabitants, with an excel- 
lent graded school, a bank, a newspaper office, very fine dwellings, 
substantial business places, neat and comfortable churches, and is 
one of those bright and saucy northern Pennsylvania towns which 
resemble a spirited youth, full of glee, mirth and business, who 
has just washed his face after violent exercise, and with a twinkle 
in his eye is ready for the next adventure. Canton looks new, 
dressed in tasteful and sprightly colors, with its well-lighted streets, 
fine yards and splendid shade trees. " It is just the place, Harry," 
said Uncle Jonas, "where if I was twenty-five years of age, I 
should like to step off and go into business. I hke its clean face 
and general appearance. Its early inhabitants were old friends of 
mine — the Geres, Griffins, Spaldings, Gnintiers, and some of them 
had seen sei vice in the war of the revolution, and came here in the 
wilderness to fight in the second war, that of cutting down the 
forest and making for themselves homes in this new country, fresh 
from the hand of nature. Many a time, I have no doubt, have 
they stood on the Armenia mountains west of us, and turned their 
faces to the east and north, and surveyed the country between 
here and the Susquehanna at Towanda, and dwelt with pleasurable 
emotions upon the beautiful landscape before them, and conjectured 
the picture that the generation of to day would witness — farms 



153 

and farm houses, fruitful orchards, herds of cattle and sheep 
grazing in rich pasture lands, and a happy and industrious people, 
pursuing their peaceful occupations, their granaries filled to over- 
flowing with the plenteous fruits of their labor, while villages and 
towns with their shops and places of business, bear evidences of 
wealth and refinement; their church spires, pointing heavenward, 
their schools and academies, filled with happy youth, anxious to 
climb the ladder of fame and make their mark in the history of 
their country, either upon the battle field, in the peaceful arts, or 
in the forum, senate or executive chair." While Uncle Jonas had 
thus been speaking, Minuequa and Alba had been passed and they 
were whirling along towards Granville and Troy at a rapid rate. 
Referring to Troy he said: 

" Troy was a hamlet with only a hotel, a blacksmith shop and a 
few scattered dwellings when I first saw it. I have no doubt she 
has changed very much for the better since then, for I am told that 
it is now the half shire of this grand old county of Bradford." 
''Yes, Uncle Jonas, Troy is the most important borough in western 
Bradford county. It is distinguished for the wealth and refinement 
of its people, its manufactories, schools, churches, lodges, fire de- 
partment and the beauty and elegance of its buildings, business 
places, hotels, and the tone of its press. There are two newspapers 
printed there, and edited with ability. Several newspapeis have 
been published there from time to time, with varied success. 
Evidently the Gazette and the Register are permanent institutions. 
A. C. Hooker, of the Gazette, is a smooth and polished writer and 
an accomphshed gentlemen. The Register is younger in years 
than the Gazette, and is fast gaining a substantial footing. Since 
you were at Troy, Uncle Jonas, not only has it developed into a 
rich and prosperous borough, but the country surrounding it has 
kept pace with the march and progress of events. Along the entire 
route from Troy to Elmira, on the old stage line from Elmira to 
Williamsport, are evidences of the same forward movement and 
de velopement. Here we are at Troy ! Look out of the car window, 
Uncle Jonas, at the town and see if you think that I have over- 
stated the matter in regard to this beautiful boro of western Brad- 
ford and northern Penrrsylvania ! " 

The twenty-five miles intervening between Troy and Elmira are 
quickly passed over. Columbia X Roads, Snedekers, Gilletts, State 
Line, and the Southport shops are seen in quick review, and the 
cars roll up to the urrion depot at Elmira. They take the street 
car, and are soon at their cosy home on West Water street, well 
plfaied with their trip from Elmira to Big Flats, and tire nee to 
Corning and over the lines operated by the Fall Brook coal com- 
pany and the Northern Central railroad company. At their quiet 
home for a few weeks they will rest from their travels, while they 
discuss social, political, industrial and historical events concerning 
northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. 



154 
POLITICAL HISTORY. 



UNSETTLED CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY AFTER THE REVOLUTION — 
THE WORK OF ORGANIZATION. 

"I have rested well, Harry, and feel very much refreshed. I 
will read the newspapers this morning, and this afternoon I want 
to have a "long talk," as the old Indian chiefs would express it. 
We have been looking over old landmarks, speaking of pioneers 
and their families in a social manner and dwelling upon their 
trials and triumphs over the denizens of tlie forests, hewing down 
the wilderness, and letting in the sunlight to accelerate the growth 
of grass, grain and the products of the soil generaUy. It occurred 
to me last night that it might be weU for me to give you an idea 
of the political influences, the public men and incidents connected 
with the development of southern and western New York and 
northern Pennsylvania before you came to know personally of 
those influences." 

"Believe me, Harry, it is not my intention to speak from a 
partisan standpoint nor give any political party the credit for 
accomplishing the greatest things, nor the blame for the failure of 
needed and wise measures. I want to show you that it was not 
altogether the men who melded the axe and followed the plow, 
who deserve all the credit for the development of this country. 
They did their share and did it nobly and many times in a double 
ca]).icity, both as pioneers and public men. Many of the men who 
guided and directed the affairs of state in those days belonged to 
the latter class and consequently double honors should be given 
them." 

"Great battles were to be fought in local matters at the county 
seats, in the state legislature, the halls of congress and in the 
executive chair, and clear heads and strong nerves, combined with 
inteUigence, were in demand. And such men came forth at the 
call. I want to speak to you about these things, while yet they 
are fresh in my memory, and I think this afternoon would be an 
appropriate time to enter upon their discussion." 

"It will give me great pleasure. Uncle Jonas, to listen to what 
you may have to say upon those topics." 

After dinner. Uncle Jonas and Harry retire to the sitting room, 
and wlien they are comfortably seated, the old gentleman proceeds: 

"You will recollect, Harry, that the revolutionary war closed in 
the year 1783, and peace was proclaimed between the American Col- 
onies and the government of Great Britain, the sovereign and 
ministry of that country acknowledging the thirteen original col- 
onies, who had entered into a confederacy the better to resist the 
mother country, to be free and independent states. The war 
closed as I have stated and left the American Colonies victorious 
but sadly demoralized in their internal affairs and encumbered with 
heavy liabilities. By many that era is regarded as the most 
dangerous to the pepetuity of a republican form of government 
that has ever occurred in the history of this country, the late rebel- 
Uon not excepted. But I will not dwell at length upon that period. 
Patriotic, seli-sacrificing and enlightened statesmanship brought 



155 

order out of confusion, framing and adopting a national constitu- 
tion, which has since withstood all the attacks made upon it prov- 
ing an anchor and compass, directing and holding the American 
people in conservative paths, while they safely have sailed over 
many a billowy sea into the haven of peace and prosperity. At 
the time of the conclusion of peace with the mother country (1783) 
all of northern Pennsylvania, southern and western New York was 
a wilderness, under the control of the red man. The prior claim 
of all western New York was held by the Indian, supplemented by 
a claim of the colony of Massachusetts, who based their title upon 
a royal charter. Across the line in Pennsylvania, a similar state 
of affairs existed. The state of Connecticut held claims und^ a 
royal charter, which conflicted with the great charter of King 
Charles the second to William Penn, in the year 1682, and by sub- 
sequent concessions. The red men presented their charter or title 
from a more ancient and greater power, the great Father of the 
Universe, to lands now composed of some fifteen of the northern 
and western counties of that state. General Sullivan, in 1779, with 
his army, had penetrated this valley and fabulous stories were cir- 
culated by his soldiery upon their return home, concerning the 
alluvial soil and productive valleys of the upper Susquehanna, the 
Genesee and Allegany rivers, and the crystal waters of the Seneca, 
Ca3aiga, Keuka, Canandaigua, Otsego and other lakes. The war 
had closed, but the white man dare not enter and possess himself 
of the territory described without the permission of the red man. 
He still watched and guarded his inheritance. War had been 
resorted to during the revolution, but when it closed, the Indians 
still held their lands and denied admittance to the pale face. What 
war had failed to accomplish was left to diplomacy to perform. 
Peaceful means were resorted to, and in the year 17&4: Pennsylvania 
made a treaty with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, N. Y. , where- 
by they ceded to the commissioners of that state, aU the territory 
described in northern and western Pennsylvania. That treaty 
reheved the Pennsylvanians and similar treaties were made by the 
authorities of New York and the conflicting claims of Massachusetts 
finally settled and the lands in question opened up to settlement. 
The Indians were not, however, removed, ^nd for many years they 
held the right to hunt and fish at will over the entire domain. 
Later, New York gathered them upon reservations and confined 
them to certain localities." 

" The Indian title extinguished, the difficulty with Massachusetts 
and Connecticut adjusted, this whole region was soon occupied. 
Settlements were made on the Chenango, Unadilla, the east branch 
of the Susquehanna, at Biughamton, Owego, Chemung, and at 
Newtown (now Elmira), and all along the courses of tlie rivers 
from here up the Chemung, Conhocton, Canisteo, Tioga, Cowan- 
esque, upon the Genesee, around the lakes, Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka 
and on the shores of lakes Ontario and Erie. Northern and western 
Pennsylvania was also rapidly covered. White men pushed their 
boats from Northumberland up the West Branch and its tributaries 
as well as the North Branch. These things occurred under the 
national administration of Washington, Adams and Jefferson, and 
under the state administration of George CHnton, John Jay and 



156 

Daniel D. Tompkins, in New York, and Benjamin Franklin as 

E resident of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and 
y the governors, Thomas Mifflin, Thomas McKean and Simon 
Snyder. The representatives in congress from New York, who 
were particularly interested in this locality during the period stated, 
were John Lawrence and John Hathorn, but later such men as 
John Patterson, Erastus Root, Oliver Phelps, John Cantine, Reu- 
ben Humphreys, Uri Tracey, Daniel Cruger, Benjamin Ellicott, 
Jonathan Richmond, David Woodcock, Samuel Lawrence, John 
Magee, Thomas Maxwell, Jonas Earll, jr., Robert Monell, Millard 
Fillmore, Gamaliel L. Barstow, Nathaniel Pitcher, Grattan H. 
Wheeler, Samuel G. Hathaway, sr., Francis Granger, Stephen B. 
Leonard, were in congress from the region described in New York 
and did much to bring the attention of the people at large to this 
section. The representatives in the state legislature of New York 
from this section were of course numerous, but not alv^a}-s unani- 
mous in their wants and the course of public policy to be pursued. 
General Charles Williamson, among the earliest members of assem- 
bly from Steuben county and especially the Pultney estate which 
covered an area of one million two hundred thousand acres in 
Steuben, Ontario, Yates, Livingston and Seneca counties, had his 
own interest to look after and was naturally jealous of any project 
instituted by the citizens of Chenmng, Tioga, Broome, Chenango, 
Tompkins and Cortland, which might in any degree conflict with 
his interest or the estate he represented. Emanuel Coryell of this 
district was a sagacious and able representative in the state legisla- 
ture. Hon. Sr.muel Tinkham was a man of influence as well as 
Hon. Edward Evans, Caleb Hyde, of Tioga, and Obadiah German, 
of Chenango, which county, up to the year 1804, had looked after 
the wants of the settlers east of the Pultney estate, including the 
Chenango and East Susquehanna valley. A few years later, Hon. 
John Miller, of Broome and Tioga, made his debut in public hfe 
and was cotemporaneous with Obadiah German, of Chenango; 
George Hornell, of Steuben; Israel Chapin, of Ontario ; Chauncey 
Loomis, of Genesee ; James Pumpelly, of Broome, afterwards of 
Tioga ; and Oliver C. Comstock, of Seneca, and Eleazer Dana, of 
Broome. General Charles Williamson had located at Bath, in the 
year 1793, as an agent for tlie Sir William Pultney estate, repre- 
senting unlimited capital and resources. He was a foreigner who 
had served in the British army. He at once became a naturalized 
citizen by taking the oath of allegiance ; organized a court and 
caused himself to be appointed judge of the same ; built hotels, 
dwellings, stores, mills, and boats to ply upon lakes Keuka and 
Seneca ; caused himself to be elected member of the assembly of 
the state of New York, and was instrumental in the formation of 
the county of Steuben from Ontario. By some, in the eastern por- 
tion of the state and in this locality, his energy and presence were 
deemed a menace to American Uberty. This of course was not so. 
He, it is true, was ambitious that the estate he had in charge 
should become a profitable investment. Justice to his memory 
requires this to be said and admitted. But those who were in one 
sense his rivals, who owned vast tracts of land in the present 
counties of Chemung, Tompkins, Schuyler, Tioga, Broome, Otsego, 



15T 

Chenango and Cortland were jealous of his power and influence ; 
and even the old patrons of Delaware, Schoharie, Albany, Mont- 
gomery and Rensselaer kept a watchful eye upon the skilled diplo- 
mat who had enthroned himself, as they termed it, in the land of 
the Six Nations, and was acquiring a foothold by the use of British 
gold that the mother country could not obtain by the force of 
arms. The Knickerbockers of the Hudson never had a kindly 
feeling towards the English, and Williamson was an Englishman^ 
though I think of ScottisU birth. Had he hailed from Amsterdam 
the case would have been different. I only refer to this matter to 
show you that even in those early days there were rivalries and 
jealousies and the public current did not run as smoothly and 
serenely as a meadow stream." 

" Many were the projects and counter-projects that were planned 
for the construction of turnpikes and state roads through the 
sparsely settled country when the war of 1812 was declared, which 
for a time were held in abeyance. At times during the war, party 
spirit ran high. Old feuds which had slumbered since the revolu- 
tion were revived, and state rights parties organized to baffle the 
administration of James Madison. I would not refer to that matter 
were it not for the reason that the bad blood stirred up during that 
period extended up to as late as 1840 or 1850. In fact it is not 
entirely forgotten now. The war being ovei\ new projects were 
agitated, such as the digging of canals and utilization of our rivers 
as a means of inland, slack-water navigation. The insufficiency 
of roads during the war had demonstrated the necessity of some 
more elaborate means of inter-communication between the waters 
of the Hudson river and lake Erie, The Erie canal was projected, 
and simultaneously with that great scheme, localities not on the 
line of that proposed route began to agitate their claims for lateral 
canals which would become feeders to that trunk line. Our neigh- 
bors over the line in Pennsylvania had also caught the fever. Hon. 
James Ford, Hon. Samuel W. Morris, Asa Mann, Esq., Justus 
Dartt, Dr. William Willard, Silas Billings, Aaron Bloss, Hiram 
Beebe, Ira Kilburne and others of Tioga county, and Judge Edward 
Herrick, Samuel McKean, and hundreds of others in Bradford 
county were besieging their own legislature and conselling with 
citizens of this state for a canal that would connect the waters of 
the Susquehanna with those of Seneca lake. On the 31st of March, 
1815, the legislature of the state of New York passed an act entitled 
"An act for opening the navigation between the head waters of 
the Seneca lake and the Chemung river." At a meeting of the 
president and directors of the Seneca and Susquehanna Lock Navi- 
gation company, at Harris hotel, in the village of Geneva, county 
of Ontario, in the state of New York, on the 2od day of December, 
1815, present, John Nicholas, W^ilhelmus Mynderse, Samuel Colt, 
Frederic A. Dezeng, Herman H. Bogert, Abraham Dox, Joseph 
Fellows, it was resolved, that Frederic A. Dezeng, one of the 
commissioners appointed by law to receive subscriptions to the 
stock of the company, be authorized to apply to the legislature of 
Pennsylvania to subscribe to said stock." 

" In pursuance of said resolution, Mr. Dezeng did apply to the 
.state of Pennsylvania as directed, and accompanied his application 



158 

with an elaborate statement setting forth the mutual benefits to be 
derived by the states of Pennsylvania and New York by the con- 
struction of such a work. The original document, Harry, is now 
in my possession. Mr. Dezeng and his coadjutors were not suc- 
cessful in obtaining subscriptions or material aid from the state of 
Pennsylvania. But the subject was agitated until the state of 
New York authorized, about fourteen years later, or in 1829, the 
construction of the Chemung canal and feeder," 

" In the meantime the population of the section under consider- 
ation was increasing at quite a rapid rate, which led to many pro- 
jects for the formation of new counties and the location of the 
county seats. If possible, there was a greater diversity of opinion 
upon these topics than any other local question which had attracted 
the attention of the people since the days of General Charles Will- 
iamson." 



FORMATION OF COUNTIES. 



HOW THE COUNTIES OF NORTHERN PENNSYLNANIA AND SOUTHERN NEW 

YORK WERE ERECTED. 

"Soon after the close of the revolutionary war, the division of 
the twelve original counties, as they were termed, began. Mont- 
gomery county had been taken from Albany in the year 1772, three 
years before the battle at Lexington, and extended southward and 
westward as far as the limits of the state. Ontario was formed 
January 27th, 1788, a little over four years after the close of the 
war, and was the first great territory that mother Montgomery 
had been deprived of. The territory of Ontario extended west 
from Geneva to the lake at Buffalo, and south to tlie Pennsylvania 
line. The remaining portion of Montgomery county included the 
present counties of Herkimer, Oneida, Madison, Chenango, Cort- 
land, Otsego, Onondaga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Broome, Tioga, Cay- 
uga, Le\%is, Hamilton, St. Lawrence and considerable other terri- 
tory which has been subsequently added to counties whose Hneage 
is traced to the uppor and lower Hudson river counties. Tioga 
county was taken from Montgomery, February 16th, 1791, and on 
the same day Herkhner and Otsego counties were formed, also 
taken from Montgomery. The erection of these four counties — 
Ontario in 1783, and Tioga, Herknner and Otsego in 1791 — m the 
western and central portion of the state, may be truly said to have 
been the initial step which in a few years iater developed into a 
popular cry for division of counties. Chenango was formed March 
loth, 1798, taken from Tioga and Herkimer, and had been preceded 
by two years by the formation of Steuben from Ontario, March 
18th, 179t), and one year by Dela\vare, which was formed from 
Otsego and Ulster, March 10th, 1797. You wiU thus perceive, 
Harry, that the people from the Mohawk to the Delaware and 
Susquehanna and westward to the Allegany and the lakes must 
have been highly interested in these projects. Whenever there 
was a new county erected, the next thing to follow was the loca- 
tion of the county seat, and that stirred up local strife, called into 



159 

requisition diplomacy, skill and wealth. Every one who owned a 
township or a thousand acres of land desired the county seat located 
upon his or their lands, as the case might be, and caused much 
excitement and dissatijafaction. When Ontario was divided and 
Steuben formed from its territory in 1T96, the inhabitants who had 
settled along the Genesee river and whose interests were affected, 
determined to have a county of their own and did not like to be 
compelled to ride over the mountains at the head waters of the 
Canisteo and Conhocton and pay their respects to the English col- 
ony of General ^ illiamson, at Bath, or at Geneva, or at Canan- 
daigua. The matter was agitated and canvassed, and in less than 
six years they accomplished their purpose by the erection of the 
county of Genesee, March 18th, 18u2, taken from Ontario- Hon. 
Nathaniel King, Joshua Mersereau, jr., from Chenango, Caleb 
Hyde from Tioga, Daniel Capin and Peter B. Porter from the dis- 
trict comprising Ontario and Steuben, were in the assembly that 
year. Thomas Storm, speaker, and James Vanlngen, clerk. And 
in the sen ite from the interested territory was General Vincent 
Mathews, of this county, with his associates from the western sen- 
atorial district, Messrs. William Beekman, Lemuel Chipman, 
Isaac Foote, John Frey, Frederic Gettman, Thomas R. Gold, Moss 
Kent, John Meyer, Robert Roseboom ; clerks, Abram B. Bancker, 
Henry I. Bleecker ; Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, lieut, -governor and 
presiding officer, and George Chnton, governor. 

"The majority " and "balance of power " were talked of as freely 
then as now. For every new county that was formed in the west 
an equal number was formed in the east and north. But, Harry, 
I will not attempt to speak of all the changes made over the entire 
state, but conflne myself to southern, western and central New 
York, and here let me reriiark, that our neighbors south of us, the 
Pennsylvanians, were not idle in the manufacture of new counties 
— Luzerne and Northumberland were the two great counties of 
northern Pennsylvania up to the close of the last century. Luzerne 
had been formed from Northumberland September 25th, 1786, and 
extended northward up the north branch of the Susquehanna to 
the state line near Athens. Ten years later, or to be precise, April 
13th, 1796, Lycoming was formed from Northumberland and 
extended up the west branch of the Susquehanna and tributaries, 
reaching westward to the Ohio line and northward to the state line 
at Lawrenceville, now Tioga county, Pa. The speculators, land 
owners, and others interested in that territory in the year 1804, 
made a grand raid on the legislature of that staid old common- 
wealth and secured the passage of an act, March 26th, 1804, form- 
ing the counties of Tioga, Jeif erson. Potter, McKean and Ciearlield. 
This move had two objects. One to counteract the formation of 
Erie, Crawford Centre and other counties which had been formed 
in the year 1800, and the othe*' to enlist the state in the project of 
building state roads, to reach these unsettled portions, whereby 
the lands of the great property holders could be reached. At the 
time of the formation of the counties of Tioga, Potter and McKean, 
there were not two thousand inhabitants, covering an area of nearly 
three thousand square miles. Closely following the organization 
of the counties last named the county of Bradford was formed 



160 

from Luzerne and Lycoming, under the title of Ontario, which on 
February 21st, 1810, was organized by an act of the legislature as 
Bradford county and commissioners appointed to locate the county 
seat, which they fixed at what was then known as MeansviUe, now 
Towanda. On the same day, viz., February 21st, 1810, the county 
of Susquehanna was formed from Luzerne, thus curtailing the 
territory of that county materially. Still she yet had an ample 
domain, covering an area of about three thousand or more square 
miles now known as Wyoming, Lackawanna and Luzerne." 

"Turning our attention again to New York, we see that Alle- 
gany county was formed from Genesee in the year 1806, and the 
same year the county of Broome was formed from Tioga, and two 
years later, or April 8th, 1808, the county of Cortland was formed 
from Onondaga. Three years previous to this, the interest border- 
ing on lake Ontario and along the rivers entering that lake, had 
secured the passage of an act forming the county of Jefferson 
March 28th, 1805, taken from the northern portion of Oneida. 
Previous to this, the county of Seneca was formed, March 25Hh, 
1804. The spirit of the western portion of the state, principally 
known as the ''Holland purchase," was awakened, and on March 
11th 1808, three counties were formed, named respectively, Chau- 
tauqua, Niagara and Cattaraugus, taken from the county of Gene- 
see. The utmost limit of the western portion of the state was 
covered by these counties. One of them, Niagara, included within 
her bordei's the greatest cataract in the world, and one which I am 
pleased to learn has been taken in charge by the authorities of the 
state of New York and its grandeur and magnificence made free to 
the admiring gaze of the millions who will hereafter witness its 
splendors without restraint." 

" This was about the state of affairs when the war of 1812 com- 
menced and, as I stated last night, interrupted many plans that 
were then in vogue to develop these regions. The war being over, 
the projects were many of them revived in new forms and assumed 
a degree of importance without a parallel in the history of the state 
— I mean internal navigation by the construction of canals." 

" Another topic was also attracting the attention of the people. 
It was the manner of holding elections, the qualifications of voters 
and the election of judicial officers by the voice of the people, 
instead by a council of appointment. A certain amount of real 
estate was necessary to be owned by the citizen before he could 
exercise "the prerogative of a freeman " and cast his ballot at an 
election. I will not discuss this subject at length, Harry, but will 
briefly state that the agitation of these subjects resulted in calling 
a convention to revise the constitution of the state and extend to 
the people more generally the privileges they demanded. During 
aU this excitement, however, the subject of new counties was not 
lost sight of. In the locality which we have had under considera- 
tion, the county of Tompkins was formed, April 17th, 1817, taken 
from Cayuga and Seneca. On April 11th, 1823, the county of 
Wayne was formed, taken from Ontario and Senca, and on the' 5th 
day of February of the same year (1823), the county of Yates was 
formed, taken from the counties of Ontario and Steuben. The 
county of Livingston had been formed from the counties of Genesee 



161 

and Ontario February 23d, 1821, and on the same day the county 
of Monroe was formed, taken also from Genesee and Ontario, and 
Orleans from Genesee November 12th, 1824 ; Erie from Niagara 
April 2d, 1821. There are only two more counties in which we are 
specially interested, — the counties of Chemung and Schuyler. 
Chemung was organized March 29th, 1836, taken from the western 
portion of Tioga, and Schuyler was formed from Chemung, Tomp- 
kins and Steuben, April 17th, 1854." 

"Having carved out the counties to suit them, and located the 
county seats, the people turned their attention to the erection of 
dwellings, school houses and churches, the digging of canals and 
the construction of plank roads and turnpikes, and finally to the 
building of railroads which run at every conceivable angle across 
New York, Pennsylvania, and all other portions of this great 
country. Covering a period from 1815 to the present (the former 
period having been alluded to) there have been many distinguished 
men who have come to the front in the social, political, professional 
and industrial interest of the section of the country under consider- 
ation, as well as in the financial positions which they have taken, 
among the great moneyed men of the nation. 

"I propose, Harry, before I discontinue these "long talks," to 
take up several counties and speak briefly of their location, the 
public improvements, the railroads, canals and telegraphs, their 
industrial, manufacturing, agricultural interests, their schools, 
churches, lodges and whatever pertains to their present prosperity 
and future prospects ; to speak of their foremost men in all trades 
and occupations, and briefly describe the mountain scenery, their 
cascades and waterfaUs, and whatever is calculated to please the 
tourist or interest the traveler." 

" In the few weeks that I shall remain here in your cosy cottage, 
I shall endeavor to talk over aU the matters of interest, which can 
as well be discussed here as upon the road, and when the genial 
rays of the sun have changed winter into spring, we will again 
sally out and take personal observations. What say you, Harry, 
to the programme ? " 

" Oh! I think it is just the thing to do. I have been extremely 
well pleased by these ' ' long talks " of yours. You have given me 
a great deal of information and presented many things in a differ- 
ent light from any that I ever had before ; of men and measures, 
and particularly the way in which you have presented the motives 
which actuated and governed the men years ago in the formation 
of the several counties surrounding us." 



FAMOUS CAMPAIGNS. 



HOW LOG CABINS, COONS, AND CIDER FIGURED AS POLITICAL 

ACCESSORIES. 

"It is well we came home from Williamsport when we did, for 
I see by the Morning Advertiser that there has been a terrible flood 
in the west branch of the Susquehanna, sweeping away milhons of 
feet of unsawed timber, tearing up the railroad tracks in many 



162 

E laces and doing mischief generally. The storm seems to have 
een general, for the paper is full of dispatches from all sections of 
the country, detailing incidents connected with the great flood. I 
propose we walk down to the bank of the Chemung and see how 
she is behaving during the flood." 

They go down to the river bank, and after witnessing for half an 
hour or more the little Chemung swollen to a big Chemung, the 
banks full to overflowing with maddening waters that are sweep- 
ing wildly onward to the Chesapeake, covered with every possi- 
ble kind of flood wood, fallen trees and floating logs, they 
return to their homes, Uncle Jonas remarking on the way that he 
could relate some very exciting incidents, which occurred many 
years ago, when high floods prevailed in the Chemung river, when 
houses, barns, cattle, and human beings were swept aw^ay like 
chaff before the wind. Arriving home, how'ever, he sat down in 
his easy chair and soon began to speak of the early political cam- 
paigns which distinguished the elections forty-five and fifty years 
ago. 

" There were," continued Uncle Jonas, " few mass meetings or 
pubhc discussions held by the people at any elections that I recol- 
lect before the year 1828. Previous to that time, although the 
people were as deeply interested in the result of elections as they 
have been at any sab sequent period, the discussion was confined 
to private debates. The country or village tavern was the great 
forum where the people would congregate in the afternoon and 
evening and taUi over the affairs of the government, the state^ 
county, and township matters, sometimes in a very spirited man- 
ner. The taverns or inns were much frequented in those days by 
the citizens, the business men, the traveler, and even by member& 
of the church. It was not infrequently the case that church ser- 
vices were held in the sitting rooms of taverns, so necessary were 
these public places regarded by the communities in whicii they 
were located. But during the time schoolhouses, as well as 
churches, were being erected, the tavern seemed to be the towm 
haU." 

"During the election which occurred in 1828 party spirit ran 
high, and no one tavern or inn was large enough to hold the peo- 
ple who desired to hear the issues of the day discussed, and politi- 
cal meetings were held all over th3 country. In 1832 it was 
particularly observable that political issues could not be confined 
to bar-room discussions. A special cause for excitement then, 
which was really a side issue, and which should never have been 
cast into the political cauldron, was the intense anti-masonic ex- 
citement. It had commenced several years before, but all the 
acrimony of the preceding years seemed to have culminated in that 
year, particularly in that portion of Tioga county now known as 
Chemung, and came down all the way from the presidential candi- 
dates to town and county officers. The anti-masonic party came 
into being in the year 1826, and had been increasing in strength up 
to the year 1832. It had enter^^d into a coalition with both parties 
at times, and finally in the year 1832 made an independent nomina- 
tion of candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency. Locally, 
in New York, it was the strongest in the counties of Ontario, 



163 

Genesee, Seneca, Cayuga, and Tompkins. In 1832 it seemed to 
have reached its greatest strength nationally, although in locahties, 
previous to that date, it had been much stronger than it was at the 
period named. The prejudices then engendered have nearly all 
been worn away by the hand of time." 

*' One of the most exciting campaigns up to that period was that 
of 1840. The acrimony in the canvass of 1832 was greater, as the 
general enthusiasm of the people was greater then than in any 
pre ceding campaign, but it was conducted more in a spirit of good 
nature, and was made the occasion of more joUity, fun, and 
laughable transactions than had ever before occurred." 

"Her3 in Elmira the Whig party, as it was then called, made 
many demonstrations. The candidate for the presidency of that 
party was General William H. Harrison, of Ohio, who had done 
dih t nguished service in the war of 1812 in the west and northwest, 
and especially at the battle of Tippecanoe. He was an excellent 
type of the frontiersmen and had seen considerable service, both 
in a military and civil character. The candidate for the vice-presi- 
dency was John Tyler, of Virginia, a descendant and representative 
of some of the best families of that state. He had seen considera- 
ble public service as a civilian and legislator. The candidate of the 
Democratic party was Martin Van Buren, of New York, then 
President of the United States, who had served his state in almost 
•every civil capacity, ranging from assemblyman, senator, gov- 
ernor, representative in congress, vice-president, and president of 
the United States, and the successor of Andrew Jackson, the ideal 
soldier and statesman of the Democratic party, who, it was claimed, 
had left the mantle of his great fame as a legacy to Martin Van 
Buren. Col. Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, then Vice-Presi- 
dent of the United States, a gallant soldier and a great orator, was 
the candidate for re-election on the Democratic ticket with Van 
Buren. I will not detain you, Harry, by going into a statement of 
the questions at issue. The Democratic party was intrenched in 
power with a great patronage at their disposal in the shape of the 
distribution of pubhc offices "where they would do the most 
good," a phrase and sentiment which has since been coined. Suf- 
fice it, that the issues were made. One was in power, and the 
other wanted to be. Several elements entered into that campaign 
which were new, novel, and unique, introduced by the Whig- 
party — Glee clubs, that sang campaign songs in honor of their 
candidates and in derision of their opponents, while great proces- 
sions with coon skins, log cabins, and hard cider traversed the 
highways, attracting the multitude to some convenient spot, and 
there the rustic platforms were surrounded by the admiring and 
interested followers, who were hai-angued, feasted, and made 
happy, while songs were sung, cannons lired, and the primitve 
and pioneer scenes of the west were delineated in a thousand dif- 
ferent ways." 

" The Democrats were entirely unprepared for such an attack, 
and the campaign had been so well planned and executed all along 
the line that before they could rally and charge back upon their 
opponents with a similar mode of warfare, the Whigs had won the 
campaign, leaving the ranks of the democracy entirely at their 
mercy." 



164 

"I have seen, Harrf, three thousand triumphant Whigs, with 
glee clubs, banners, barrels of hard cider, raccoons alive, raccoons 
dead and dressed, assembled in the little village of Elmira, parading 
the streets and marching over to Chnton Island and there having 
a grand barbecue and mass meeting. The farmer M^ould leave his 
plow, the merchant his store, the mechanic his shop to join in the 
procession. Tough old hickory or Jacksonian Democrats were 
even swept from their moorings into the ranks of that party, and. 
before they were aware of it, were shouting for ' ' Tippecanoe and 
Tyler too." It not only captured the rustic mind, but such learned 
and polished gentlemen as Judge Theodore North, Judge Aaron 
Konkle, Hon. James Dunn would join the meeting, and, under 
the inspiration of the monient, mount the rustic rostrum and de- 
liver stump speeches, and sit down in their rough log cabins and 
drink hard cider and partake of coon meat and corn bread. The 
late Hon. Andrew Bi-ay Dickinson, of Steuben, took great delight 
in those demonstrations. Judge Hiram Gray, Col. S. G. Hatha- 
way, Jr., Thomas Maxwell, Lyman Covell, William Maxwell, and 
others of like character did all in their power to arrest the stam- 
pede of the Democratic rank and file into the lines of their oppon- 
ents, but with no avail .^ These proceedings were not confined to 
this locality, nor to this state alone. They were universal from 
Maine to Geoi-gia. The times had been hard, and in their cam- 
paign songs they had the words " two dollars a day and roast heef'' 
held out as one of the promises by which they caught thousands of 
laboring men, who gave " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," then- vote, 
expecting that their promises would be fulfilled." 

" The democrats sent their best men to the front in order if pos- 
sible to counteract the effect of that log cabin and hard cider cru- 
sade. The spirit of the war of 1812 had not died out, and its 
events were fresh in tlie minds of the people. Col. Richard M. 
Johnson, the democratic candidate for vice-president, was a par- 
ticipant in that war, and had done some splendid fighting in the 
west, in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, against the British and In- 
dians, and no doubt was the soldier who killed Tecumseh at the 
battle of Monravian Town. His prestige was great as a soldier and 
an orator. He vacated his seat as president of the senate and went 
out to advocate the cause of the democracy at public meetings and 
relate in the most glowing language the incidents connected with 
the Indian campaigns in the west during the war. He came into 
this county. He called around him the few remaining soldiers of 
the war of the revolution, gathered the soldiers of the war of 1812, 
had soldiers preside at his meetings, and by almost supei-human 
efforts essayed to stay the desertion from the ranks of the demo- 
cratic party and their enlistment under the banner of ' ' Tippecanoe 
and Tyler too." He held meetings in Elmira, at Horseheads and 
Pine Valley, at the old Daniel Parsons stand, where the late Capt. 
William Mapes, of Big Flats, a revolutionary soldier who had 
served in the Continental army for five years, and had fought In- 
dians under G«n. Sullivan, presided. Col. Johnson and Capt. Wil- 
ham Mapes stood side by side upon the platform, their gray hair 
shining in the sun, Avhile the gallant vice-president was speaking 
in his most impassioned and eloquent terms of the services ot 



165 

Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe,* and the hero of New 
Orleans, and relating his personal encounters with the Indians, and 
more particularly with that great chief Tecuraseh. He also re- 
ferred to and defended the action of the democratic party, spoke of 
the services of Silas Wright, jr., from New York, senator in con- 
gress, to his country, the gallant and heroic deeds of Andrew 
Jackson, who had fought in the war of the revolution, and eulo- 
gized his later services in Indian wars, and the war against Great 
Britain, and the defeat of the British army under Packenham at 
New Orleans, pointed out his sterling qualities in the presidential 
chair, and stated his wishes which he had made known from his 
retire 1 hone, the "Hermitage," and did everything, that a great 
mind could si^g2jest, or an eloquent tongue express, to hold in line 
the democratic voters of the country. But his efforts were un' uc- 
cessful. The result was, the whigs literally carried the election by 
storm, electing their president and vice-president by a large pop- 
ular and electoral majority and increasing their strength in the 
state legislatures and in the congress of the United States." 

"On the 4th of March following, Harrison and Tyler t" ok the 
oath prescribed and were duly inaugurated president and vice- 
president of the United States. The whigs were much elated. 
They were certain that the Bank of the United States would be re- 
charted and money be plenty and the country would enter upon a 
carcei' of prosperity unprecedented in its history. President Har- 
rison selected an able cabinet, consisting of Daniel Webster, of 
Massachusetts, secretary of state ; Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, secre- 
tary of the trersury ; John Bell, of Tennessee, secretary of war ; 
George E. Badger, of North Carolina, secretary of the navy ; 
Francis Granger, of New York, postmaster-general ; John J Crit- 
tenden, of Kentucky, attorney-general. On the 17th of March, 
twelve days after the inauguration, the president issued a call for 
a special session of congress to convene on the 31st day of May, to 
take into consideration the currency and financial wants of the 
country. But the gallant president did not live to see it convene. 
One month after the inaugural ceremonies had taken place with 
such high hopes and bright anticipations the president died, and 
the capital and the country were dressed in mourning, and the 
American people plunged in grief. Vice-president Tyler assumed 
the duties of the president, and did not fulfill all the brilliant 
promises of success which had been expected of the administration 
of " Tippecanoe and Tyler too." 



A FAMOUS STRUGGLE. 



THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST OF 1844 — MEN, PRINCIPLES AND IN- 
CIDENTS. 

"Harry, I wish to have one more 'long talk' upon the subject 
of political meetings and then I will turn my attention to another 
topic. I have spoken in regard to the political campaign of 1840, 
and now I would hke to give you an idea of the political campaign 
of 1844." 



166 

" I was young at that time, Uncle Jonas, and have prhicipally 
learned the events of the period from liistories or slips from news- 
papers of that time, and shall be very glad to listen to one who was 
a participant in that active and eventful campaign." 

" I shall endeavor to make a plain statement of facts, not at- 
tempting in the least to influence you in your judgment in regard 
to the two great political parties which entered into the campaign 
of 1844. It must make no difference with you whether I was a 
Jackson de^nocrat or a Henry Clay whig, or an abolitionist who 
supported James G. Birney, who was one of the men instrumental 
in laying the foundation for the formation of the republican party 
ten years later. My sole object is to portray the manner in which 
the political canvass was carried on during that year, without re- 
gard to which party was in the right, or in the wrong, successful 
or unsuccessful, and shall only allude to the positions taken by each 
party to illustrate my description of the contest. 

"You recollect that, yesterday, in referring to the campa'gn of 
1840, I stated that the whigs had promised the laboring men oi the 
country ' two dollars per day and roast beef,' and general prosperity 
if they would assist in electing 'Tippecanoe and Tyler too,' and 
giving them a majority in both houses of congress. Well, Hariy, 
the laboring men and othei's of the country rallied to the wing 
standard and placed the party in power by unprecedented majori- 
ties. But unfortunately their president died within a month after 
his inauguration, and the vice-president assumed the duties of the 
president. In the meantime congress had been called in special 
session to legislate upon the currency, the establishment of a great 
financial institution to carry out the plans and promises which had 
been made. Congress did pass such measures, and President Tyler 
set up constitutional reasons for vetoing them. A bankrupt law 
was parsed under the pressing wants of the business men, and, 
instead of years of prosperity, 'two dollars a day and roast beef,' 
the country was in financial distress. This state of things was di- 
lated upon by the democrats, and in many cases exagerated. The 
whigs in congress and out of congress were at variance with their 
president, wtiom, they declared, had basely betrayed them and 
blighted their hopes. The democrats were not slow in striving to 
maKe the breach wider and the cause of dissatisfaction greater. 

Whig and democratic national conventions had been convened, 
and candidates for president and vice-presi«ient nominated. The 
democrats had placed in nomination James K. Polk, of Tennessee, 
a warm personal and political friend of Andrew Jackson, and for 
vice-president, George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania The whigs 
had nominated Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and Theodore Freling- 
huysen, of New Jersey. Henry Clay was the great commoner of 
the west. He had served long in congress, been speaker of the 
house, and for many years one of the most distinguislied members 
of the senate. He had also been minister abroad, and had signed 
the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain 
at Ghent, at the close of the war of 1812. He was one of the most 
brilliant and persuasive orators in the land, a great organizer, and 
a man in every way calculated to be a great leader, who would 
restore harmony in the ranks of the discouraged whig party, revive 



167 

their drooping spirits, heal their dissensions and lead them to vic- 
tory. Mr. Frelinghuyseu was a poUshed scholar, and an accom- 
plished gentleman well quahfied for the service which would be 
required of him in case of election. Although not in power, the 
democrats held the vantage-ground in the contest. It was better 
for them that the administration was nominally in the hands of 
the whigs with such a president in the chair as John Tyler. Then 
again, they had learned a lesson in the campaign of 1840, and in- 
tended to steal, so to speak, the thunder of the whig party and 
adopt their tactics in the manner of carrying on campaigns. They 
changed the programme, however, and, instead of sporting coon- 
skins, hard cider and log cabins, they had glee clubs, banners, pro- 
cessions, hickory- pole-raisings and mammoth mass meetings. It. 
was generally conceded here at the north that Van Buren would 
again be the candidate of the democratic party, and it is said that 
in anticipation of that event the whigs had tons of democratic 
songs and other campaign documents aU ready to fire upon the 
public and scatter broadcast through the land. The nomination of 
James K. Polk, instead of Martin Van Buren, made this great ex- 
pense and outlay on behalf of the whig pariy useless. More than 
that, it brought storms of ridicule upon them, when the fact became 
known by the democrats, and the committee who had the matter- 
in charge was caricatured and charged with ' losing their ammu- 
nition,' of 'fiashing in the pan' (a phrase pecuhar to the use of 
old flint-lock guns), and sundry other ridiculous epithets were 
showered upon the disconcerted whigs. 

" The nominations were made in June, and the message announc- 
ing the nomination of James K. Polk, instead of Van Buren, was 
sent over one of the very first telegraph lines in the world from the 
democratic convention at Baltimore to Washington. (Contem- 
plate for a moment, Harry, the magnitude of the telegraph system 
now, after the lapse of forty -two years. It has conquered even the 
depths of the ocean, connecting distant countries, and is found in 
every village, hamlet, and city in the civihzed world. Its lines are 
laid along the routes of every railroad, and it sends its messages 
with the rapidity of lightning from continent to continent !) The 
nominations were made in June, and simultaneously with their 
announcements the country was aroused from centre to circum- 
ference. Bonfires, illuminations, pole raisings, barbecues, and 
processions were the order of the day. Meetings were appomted 
in some central place, when almost every man for miles around 
would turn out and form processions composed of four, six, and 
ten horse teams, hauling boats, mounted on wheels, with banners 
and devices of every conceivable kind. Young ladies, dressed in 
holiday apparel, were seated in those boats, carrying banners rep- 
resenting the ditferent states, and singing campaign songs. In 
the procession might be seen old men and veterans, carrying mini- 
ature hickory oi- ash trees, to which were attached banners. There 
were farmers with a dozen or more ox teams hauling ponderous 
wagons, loaded with the products of the soil, their oxen gaily rib- 
boned and clothed with devices which the spirit of the moment 
inspired. There were bands of martial music, many of the musi- 
cians being veterans of the war of the revolution or that of 1812.. 



168 

There were caricatures and placards suspended upon huge plat- 
forms resting upon wheels, which were drawn along by a dozen or 
more horses, all of the same color. The placards, if it was a dem- 
ocratic procession, represented in derision the promises of the 
whigs in 1840, of "two dollars a day and roast beef," their log 
cabins and hard cider, their coon skins and other paraphernalia, 
and perhaps to give more emphasis and significance to their senti- 
ments, would have chained on a platform a live raccoon with in- 
dices pointing to him with such words as "the thief caught at 
last," or, the "Coon Polked." Then again a stuffed raccoon skin 
would be displayed conspicuously and labelled "the dead party." 
Trades and occupations Would be represented in the procession, the 
operatives at work with these words painted in large letters upon 
banners, "The promises of 1840 — two dollars a day and roast 
beef," and underneath : " Whig promises realized — sixty cents per 
day and beef liver." Again might be seen a banner bearing this 
inscription, quoted from the whig platform : "A sound currency," 
cind underneath it, "bankrupt notices." In a thousand different 
ways were the promises of the whig party of 1840 derided and 
made light of by the enthusiastic democracy. At the place for 
assembling, the processions would form in a circle and form a 
dozen rustic platforms and speakers would hold forth to the thous- 
ands there convened. Arguments, sarcasm, and ridicule were each 
used to the utmost advantage. 

Large meetings were held by the friends of " Harry Clay and 

Frelinghuysen, " but they were much in the condition, or position 

rather, of the democratic party in 1840. They had advertised to 

show a great moral reform in 1840, and failed to perform what 

they had advertised, and while they made a gallant and heroic 

fight, the democratic party had them on the defensive. In 1840 

they had sent out flaming double elephant posters, so to speak, and 

had failed to perform even what was on the small bills. In the 

west, the wave of public opinion was from the first with the 

democrats. Here it was about an even thing at first, but the 

democi-ats before the middle of September had taken the lead. 

Silas Wright, who declined the nomination for vice-president, was 

nominated by the democrats for governor of this state, and he and 

his friends had thrown their wiiole energies into the campaign. 

Col. Hathaway, Hiram Gray, John Gr. McDowell, of this county, 

Martin Grover, of Allegheny, Darius A. Ogden, of Yates, Amasa 

Dana, of Tompkins, Daniel S. Dickinson, of Broome, as well as 

Silas Wright himself, had taken the stump, and mass meetings 

and processions unparalleled in the history of the country were 

held. Many of the rank and file who had deserted the democratic 

party in 1840 came back like prodigal sons, and those who gave 

the democratic ticket of that year their nominal support rallied in 

1844 with enthusiasm. Monster mass meetings were held in 

Elmira, Owego, Binghamton, Norwich, Cortland, Ithaca, Geneva, 

Havana, Penn Yan, Bath, Painted Post, Angelica, Lawrence ville, 

and Tovvanda. There were pole raisings besides, where two, three, 

five hundred or a thousand people would assemble, raise a hickory 

pole, have music by their local campaign glee club, or be assisted 

by one or two from a larger town. I attended a mass meeting, 



169 

which was held here in Elmira, where at least twenty-five thousand 
people were present. They came in from every town and village 
in this county, and in great numbers from Bradford county, Pa., 
and Tioga, Tompkins, Yates, and Steuben in this state. The Hon. 
David Wilmot, of Towanda, was one of the speakers. I also at- 
tended a monster mass meeting of the democrats, held at Painted 
Post, in Erwin's meadov/, where twenty-five acres of democrats 
were j)resent, with every conceivable device, banner, and carica- 
ture. The Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson was one of the speakers, and 
Gen. Francis E. Erwin was president of the day. Delegations and 
processions were there from almost every portion of Steuben, the 
county of Chemung, and the valleys of the Tioga and Cowanesque 
in Pennsylvania. Some of them had traveled on horseback and in 
wagons over sixty miles. I also attended one at Geneva, and one 
at Penn Yan, where, among the speakers, were James W. Nye, of 
Madison county, Martin Grover, of Allegheny, and Darius A. 
Ogden, of Yates. I went down with a delegation from here and 
saw thirty thousand democrats rush in from all directions to 
Ithaca. They were there from every farm, hamlet, village, and 
cross-roads in all that region. They came up in boats on the lake, 
and, arriving there early, I saw them in processions of miles in 
length wind down the hillside from Watkins, Havana, Ulysses, 
Trumansburg, Hector, and marching down also from the south 
was a procession, which, it was said, reached half way up to New- 
field. Then from the north they came from Cayuga county, gath- 
ering seemingly every one in Lansing and Groton, while from the 
east for two hours was a ceaseless stream flowing in from the di- 
rection of Cortland. I also witnessed large meetings of the friends 
of Henry Clay, but they seemed to possess less spirit and enthusi- 
asm than the democratic meetings. , I believe they felt that they 
were beaten, but like the democrats of 1840, they were bound to 
keep, as the phrase expresses it, "a stiff upper lip." 

The recollections of these old political days are among the dearest 
memories of my life, and I like especially to talk of these famous 
campaigns of I84u and 1844. In 1840 the whigs had the advantage 
of the democrats and won. In 1844 the advantage was in favor of 
the democrats and they won. I have no doubt there is many an 
old democrat and many an old whig who would like to sit down 
together and talk and laugh over those campaigns. 



A CHAKMING COUNTEY. 



THE ADDISON AND NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY — FERTILE 
VALLEYS AND STATELY HILLS. 

"We have had a rest of several weeks. Uncle Jonas, and as 
the weather is now pleasant, suppose we take a trip to-morrow 
morning over the Erie railroad to Addison, and from thence over 
the Addison and Northern Pennsylvania narrow-gauge railroad ?" 
"It is agreeable to me, Harry, and I "will make arrangements to 



go" 



Accordingly the next morning Uncle Jonas and Harry rise early 



lYO 

and go to the depot in time for the fast train west. They ghde 
along through the Chemung valley, which we have heretofore des- 
cribed, halting for a few moments at Corning, and then away up 
through the historic village of Painted Post, crossing the Conhoc- 
ton liver, and roiling up into the valley of the Canisteo, to Addison. 
The American hotel omnibus was taken, and Uncle Jonas and 
Harry were driven across the Canisteo to that admirable hotel, 
where breakfast was served them. 

Addison is a neat and prosperous village situated on the north 
and south sides of the Canisteo, and as Uncle Jonas had many 
years ago a large number of acquaintances, he desired to remain 
until afternoon and look the town over and recall the names of 
those who wei-e early settlers and residents. 

"You will bear in mind, Harry," said Uncle Jonas, "that the 
Canisteo valley in the early days was settled by a class of people 
who were generally engaged in lumbering and running logs down 
the river to the Pennsylvania and Maryland Market. They were 
hardy pioneers, accustomed to severe labor, truthful and outspoken, 
firm in their convictions, warm in their friendship, hospitable and 
free-hearted. Many of them had moved in the best circles of 
society in Pennsylvania and the New England states ; but when 
they made their homes in the valley of the Canisteo, with a great 
forest surrounding them on all sides, they naturally lost some of 
that pohsh which had distinguished them in their former homes. 
This place was originally known as Middleton, but April 6th, 1808, 
it was re-formed and named in honor of the distinguished English 
p let Addison. Several townships since that time have been formed 
from it, lessening its area : Troupsburg in 1808, Cameron and a 
portion of WoodhuU in 1828, Rathbone in 1856, and Tuscarora in 
1859. Thus you perceive, Harry, that the township of Addison 
extended up the Canisteo river a number of miles and south to the 
Pennsylvania hne, covering an area whereon grow some of the 
finest white pine, oak and hemlock timber in the Southern Tier of 
New York. At first rude saw miUs were erected and the timber 
converted by a very slow process, compared with that of modern 
times, into a merchantable product, which was rafted into the Can- 
isteo and floated to the lower Susquehanna. In the few hours that 
we shall remain here it will be impossible for me to tell you all 
about the scenes that were enacted here in those early times. 
Among the early settlers were Reuben Searles, Lemuel Searles, 
Wilham Wombaugh, Elisha Gilbert, William Baskins Jones, better 
known as 'Bass Jones,' George Goodhue, Col. Griff Jones, John 
Martin, #onathan Tracey, Stephen Dolson, Elisha Searles and Dr. 
Frederick Wagner. These men in parties used to go do down the 
river, and frequently landed their rafts at Elmira and took on sup- 
plies for their down-the-river trip. In that way we became ac- 
quainted with them. A considerable reinforcement to the settle- 
ments upon the Canisteo was made about the year 1840, when the 
old Erie raih-oad company commenced the driving of piles upon 
which to establish their road-bed. Enterprising men with capital 
came here then and have contributed to the prosperity of the 
village. 

'* Since that time. Uncle Jonas, up to the completion of the Erie 



171 

in 1851, and subsequently, there have been many accessions : The 
Gillettes, the McKays, the younger portion of the Jones family — 
Col. James E. Jones, H. Ross Jones and Henry Jones ; the Pax- 
tons, Curtises, the Baldwins, the Weatherbys, the Jenningses, the 
Mileses, the Farnhams, the Dininnys, the Horrs, the Delamaters 
and others have made Addison what it is. They estabhshed foun- 
dries and machine shops, grist miUs, tanneries, erected academies 
and churches, established printing offices and banks, erected ho- 
tels, organized fire companies, masonic and odd fellows' lodges, 
bunt plank roads and railroads, and contributed to the building up 
of this enterprising village, which is the second in size in the valley 
of the Canisteo. It has suffered severely at various times from 
fires, but the people rallied and erected better buildings than those 
which were destroyed." 

*' The building of the Addison and Northern Pennsylvania road in 
the year 18S2, which extends from here over into the valley of the 
Cowanesque and thence south into the valley of Pine Creek, has 
done much to secure trade from those points and placed them in 
communication with a region rich in agricultural, tanning, lumber, 
aud mineral products. It is a narrow-gauge road to be sure, but 
no other kind could have ascended and descended the mountains 
intervening between the Canisteo and Cowanesque rivers, or be- 
tween the Cowanesque river and Pine Creek. When the con- 
struction of the road was proposed by Col. Henry Baldwin, Col. 
James E. Jones, Hiram McKay, John Hinman and others, there 
was many a doubting Thomas who shook his head and wisely pre- 
dicted that the feat could not be accomplished. I»t was accom- 
plished, however, and in less than four months forty miles of it 
was constructed, and engines and rolling stock placed upon it. We 
will now walk over to the depot and caU on the officials of the road 
iDcated here." 

The officers of the road are : Thomas C. Piatt, president. No. 
82 Broadway, New York city ; William Brookfield, vice-president, 
New York citv ; James E. Jones, secretary, Addison ; Frank M. 
Baker, general superintendent, Addison ; and H. C. Hitchcock, 
auditor, Addison. 

Tne directors are : Thomas C. Piatt, William C. Sheldon, Henry 
P. DeGraaf, William Brookfield, Edmond S. Bowen, Fiank H. 
Piatt, George R. Blaucbard, Walter S. Gurnee, of New York city, 
and James E. Jones, Addison ; Charles L. Pattison, Elkland, Pa. ; 
James Horton, Westfield, Pa.; John W. Hammond, Osceola, Pa., 
and Royal W. Clinton, Newark Valley, N. Y. 

Closely associated with the Addison and Northern Pennsylvania 
railroad company is the Gaines Coal and Coke company, which is 
operatmg the mnies at Gurnee. The officers of thai company are: 
T. C. Piatt, president ; W. C. Sheldon, treasurer ; J. E. Jones, 
secretary ; F. M. Balder, general superintendent ; P. A. Jordan, 
super. iit3ndent of mines ; H. C. Hitchcock, auditor. Directors : 
T. C. P.att, W. C. Sheldon, J. E. Jones, C. L. Pattison, G. R. 
Blaiichard. 

In a few moments Uncle Jonas and Harry reached the Addison 
and Northern Pennsylvania depot and called on Mr. Frank M. 
Baker, the general superintendent, who received them courteously 



172 

and introduced them to Mr. H. C. Hitchcock, the auditor, and to 
Mr. C. P. Colgan, C. L. Miller, clerks in superintendent's office, 
and to Jean Baptist Hein, clerk in the auditor's office. A half 
hour was spent i)leasantly m discussing the prospects of the road, 
the coal trade, and tlie gradual increase of business over their line, 
which was developing at the rate of about forty per cent each year^ 
and explaining the details of transferring from narrow gauge to 
standard gauge of the Erie by means of "Ramsey's gravity hoist, 
under the direction and supervision of Mr. Samuel Patterson. Mr. 
Baker also gave them a list of the station agents, telegraph opera- 
tors, conductors, and engineers on the line, together with the 
narne of Mr. J. P. Wright, road master. 

The names of the several officials are, J. Boyer, agent at Fi-ee- 
man, N. Y. ; H. M. Johnson, station agent and telegraph operator 
at Elkland, Pa. ; Vine Crandall, Osceola, Pa. ; George W. Fisk, 
agent at Knoxville, Pa., and E. M. Stroud, operator ; G. H. Tre- 
main, agent at Westfield, and E. Bliss, operator ; M. B. Stebbins, 
agent and operator at Sabinsville; H. T. Alba, agent and operator 
at Davis Station ; R. H. Wombaugh, agent at Gurnee, and P. J. 
McGuire, operator ; E. A. Mack, agent and operator at Gaines ; 
Hugh Ross, agent and operator at Galeton. 

The conductors are, J. W. Parshall, passenger; O. R. Enos, coal 
train, and F. P. Dodge, freight and passenger. The engineers are, 
Henry Maxsou, William Nelson, 0. L. Baker and Fred Pomeroy. 
Baggage master, W. E. Morgan, and United States mail agent, C, 
W. Ingersoll. 

The entire length of the main Hue is fifty-one miles, giving em- 
ployment to one hundred and thirty men, besides those engaged in 
mining and labor connected with the mines. The company has 
five locomotives and a full complement of freight and passenger 
cars. The Gaines Coal and Coke company mine about three thou- 
sand tons of coal per month, which is shipped over the Addison 
and Northern Pennsylvania road and is transferred at Addison to 
the Erie and distributed east and west. The road also has a very 
large toimage in lumber, hemlock bark, hides, leather, grain and 
merchandise, which keeps all their rolling stock in active operation. 

Having learned all these details, our travelers return to the hotel 
and prepare themselves for the trip over tlie Addison and Northern 
Pennsylvania road to the famous valleys of the Cowanesque and 
Pine Creek. The weather was all that could be desired, and the 
fresh spring breezes, bright sunlight, the birds singing in the shade 
trees and along the banks of the streams, the budding trees and 
the smiling face of nature generally inspired them with pleasure. 
Uncle Jonas had never before ridden in a narrow guage coach and 
its minature proportions pleased him very much. As they steamed 
out of the depot and crossed the Canisteo his eyes glistened with 
delight. It was really a great treat for him. They soon began to 
ascend the valley of Tuscarora Creek nearly on the course of the 
old Indian war and hunting trails of the Six Nations over the Tus- 
carora mountains. They passed the old homesteads of the Wom- 
bauglis and Rowleys and soon began to wind around the face of 
the mountains. Looking out of the rear car door they saw the 
busy village of Addison, skirting the banks of the Canisteo, with 



173 

its church spires pointing heavenward, the elegant dwellings and 
business places outlined, while on the Erie a long train of passenger 
coaches was sweeping down the valley with the rapidity of the 
wind and several freight and coal trains running in close proximity 
to each oiier were coiling and running around the curves like huge 
serpents. Immediately beneath them in the valley were farm 
houses, and sturdy farmers turning over the mold with strong 
teams and steel plows glistening in the sun and sending forth 
flashes of light as from an electric battery. Ravines are crossed 
upon high trestles and the little locomotive hauls its train up on a 
grade of over one hundred and forty feet to the mile, struggling 
and puffing like a porpoise. They finally reach an altitude where 
they can look to the north-westward and see the outlines of moun- 
tains away beyond Woodhull, and turning to the eastward and 
southward the mountain ranges of the Canisteo, Tioga and Con- 
hocton appear in the dim distance. A few minutes more they 
have reached the summit and rounded a point where the valley of 
the Cowanesque for miles is spread out before them. 

They are now many hundred above the valley and the descent is 
to be made. Soon they approach a point where the village of Nel- 
son and the lower Cowanesque are seen. Nelson was formerly 
known as Beecher's island, — Hopestill Beecher, one of the first 
county comip.i^sioners of Tioga county, Pa., having settled there 
and erected mills. They also get a view of Farmington away to 
the south of Nelson, with its many fine farms, buildings and 
orchards. Then casting their eyes to the westward along the 
valley, they rest upon one of the fairest landscapes in northern 
Pennsylvania, The Cowanesque river meanders through rich and 
alluvial meadows, dotted along on its banks with hamlets and 
villages and skirted by ranges of mountains that rise hundreds of 
feet above the bed of the stream. The Cowanesque valley was one 
of the earhest settled in the county of Tioga and has ever been dis- 
tinguished for the fertility of its soil and the wealth and enterprise 
of its inhabitants. 

While the eyes are thus feasting upon those beautiful scenes, the 
cars are rapidly descending into the valley and reach it at Elkland, 
a busy and enterprising town with several important industrial 
estabhshments which have recently been founded. The town also 
has a fine school building, a bank, printing office, two hotels, and 
is fast increasing in wealth and population. This village was for 
many years the home of the late Joel Parkhurst, one of the wealth- 
iest men in the county, who died recently at an advanced age. C. 
L. Pattison, his son-in-law, one of the directors in the A. & N. 
P. railroad, also of the Gaines Coal and Coke company, resides at 
this point, and has recently erected one of the finest residences in 
the valley. There were many historical incidents connected with 
this valley which Uncle Jonas desired to relate, but which for 
want of time he could not do. 

From Elkland, the Fall Brook railroad and the Addison and 
Northern Pennsylvania railroad traverse the valley westward in 
close proximity until Westfield is reached, when the Fall Brook 
road continues up the valley and the A. & N. P. R. R. abruptly 
leaves the valley and runs south up MOl Creek to its summit and 



174 

then descends Long run to Pine Creek at Gaines and then follows 
up the Pine Creek valley to Galeton, or better known as Pike Mills, 
in the county of Potter. 

As they sped up the valley from Elkland, Uncle Jonas remarked 
the improved appearance of that region since he last visited it, 
nearly fifty years ago, when his old friends, the Knoxes, Billings, 
Tubbs, Seeleys, Freebonis, Bulkleys, Bozzards, and many other 
distinguished pioneers and early settlei/s inhabited the valley. 
Even the narrow guage locomotives don't wait for long stories at 
stations, but speed along at a rapid rate. Before they hardly 
realized it they had passed Osceola, Academy Corners, Knoxville^ 
and were approaching Westfield. That boro' is one of the moi^t 
important in the valley and is rapidly increasing in population. 
The construction of railroads to its borders in the year 1882, and 
the establishment of a mammoth tannery a few years previous have 
quickened it and developed it into a very prosperous town. 

From Westfield the A. & N. P. R. 11. leaves the Cowanesque 
vaUey and ascends the valley of Mill Creek through the town of 
Clymer, having quite an important station at Sabinsville, a village 
in the township of Clymer. This township was named in honor 
of William B. Clymer, agent of the Bingham estate and grandson 
of George Clymer , one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. The lands are rolling on either side of the narrow valley 
and are under a good state of cultivation. After leaving Sabins- 
ville for a mile or more the country is more rugged and begins to 
show evidences of coal deposits. The httle locomotive puffs away 
until the summit is reached and then brakes are put on and down 
through the valley of Long Run the train takes its course, passing 
Davis station and several flag stations and also the spur which 
ascends to the " Barren" or the coal mines of the Gaines Coal and 
Coke company at Gurnee. Uncle Jonas and Harry consult and 
conclude to continue on to Gaines and stop at the Izaac Walton 
house, for so many years conducted by that excellent landlord and 
trout fisherman, "Hod" Vermilyea. As they stepped from the 
coach and walked a few steps to the hotel, the declining sun's rays 
were dancing over the back of the Big Elephant, a mountain on the 
south side of Pine Creek. 



THE LAST TRIP, AND A FINE ONE. 



OVER THE ELMIRA, CORTLAND & NORTHERN, THE SOUTHERN CENTRAL 

AND SENECA LAKE. 

After resting a day at their home in Elmira, Uncle Jonas and 
Harry take the early morning train over the Elmira, Cortland and 
Northern railroad, formerly known as the Utica, Ithaca and El- 
mira, which, under the presidency of Austin Corbin and the con- 
trol of Manager A. A. McLeod, has been gi-eatly improved in road 
bed and rolling stock, and is in first-class condition. They pass 
Horseheads, wheel to the right up Newtown Creek to Breeseport, 
and speed their way up among the grand old hiUs of Erin and Van 



175 

Etten — a delightful ride that beautiful spring morning. In their 
course, they cross chasms and climb and descend hills. Passing 
through the village of Swartwood, Erin, Van Etten, and Candor, 
then turning northward, crossing a high trestle at Mott's Corners, 
they reach Ithaca on its eastern limits, from whence a splendid 
view of the valley beneath and Cayuga Lake is obtained. They 
spend a day or more looking over that charming city-like village, 
calUng on descendants of former friends, visiting Cornell Univer- 
sity and the thousand and one points of interest. To say that the 
scenery in and about Ithaca is superb but raeagerly expresses its 
loveluiess. It is situated at the head of the Cayuga Lake, a sheet 
of water forty miles in length, and on an average, three miles in 
width, the banks of which, by gradual elevation, rise to the height 
of two hundred feet or more, and are under the highest state of cul- 
tivation, with some of the finest farms and farm houses in central 
New York, and with waterfalls and cascades, with elegant pubhc 
buildings, splendid private dweUings, costly churches and substan- 
tial business places, busy manufacturies, forming a picture beyond 
the powers of the most proficient artist. Than university hill af- 
fords, no grander outlook can be obtained elsewhere in the state. 
The lake with its busy commerce, the railroads with their express 
and ponderous freight and coal trains, the sloping hillsides with 
their fields of waving grain, meadows, orchards, flocks and herds, 
the dashing waterfalls and cascades, the noble structures dedicated 
to art, intelligence, and education, fill the measure to complete- 
ness of all that is beautiful in art, nature, and civiization. 

Ithaca has a grand lineage. The township was organized in 
Onondaga county in 1794, and without changhig its beautiful loca- 
tion has formed a portion since of Seneca, Cayuga, and Tompkins. 
She has good blood in her veins. Her citizens from her earliest 
history have made themselves felt in aU the private vocations of 
life, and have been honored by some of the most distinguished 
public stations. They have been senators, judges, congressmen, 
attorney-generals, state treasurers, and governors, and have ac- 
quired a state, national, and world-wide fame. 

From Ithaca our travelers resume their journey on the Elmira, 
Cortland and Northern to Cortland, distant about twenty miles. 
It is one of the " loveliest villages of the plain," a model of neat- 
ness, cleanliness, and industry. While Ithaca excels her sister 
villages in beauty of landscape, Cortland stands in the foremost 
rank in elegance and grace. But the reader must not infer from 
this that she does nothing but look after her toilet and appear 
gaily dressed, for at Cortland are some of the largest industrial 
establishments in the state, employing several thousand men in 
the manufacture of wagons, buggies, cutters, sleighs, chairs, wire 
cloth, etc. Elegant lawns and floral gardens, palatial mansions 
and cosy cottagers, fine hotels, costly school buildings and churches, 
court-houses, well-conducted newspapers, steam and street car 
railroads, all go hand in hand with the factories and make her 
granily successful. Bright, animated, and wide awake is Cort- 
land, and such were the impressions of Uncle Jonas after visiting 
the town. 

They next visit Homer and look over the busy httle town, full of 



17t> 

industrial establishments, and then resume their journey north- 
ward, stopping off at De Ruyter for dinner. They have entered 
the great central dairy belt of the state. A hundred cows upon 
one farm are frequently seen, while creameries and cheese presses 
are in abundance. 

The next train is boarded and on they glide to Cazenovia, one of 
the fairest villages of Madison county, nestled cosily on the shore 
of Cazenovia Lake. It is an incorporated village of about five 
thousand inhabitants, and is quite a summer resort. Its chief 
pride, however, is its seminary of learning, under the control and 
direction of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Reahzing that thei]' time was hmited, Uncle Jonas concluded to 
iTin over into the Chenango vaUey and that evening took a train 
for Earlville, situated on the Clienango river and on the county 
hue between Madison and Chenango, between fifty and sixty miles 
north of Biughamton, Tliey visit the villages of Smyrna and 
Sherburne. There they were indeed in the dairy belt. 

They met there a few of the descendants of the early settlers, 
with such honored names as Guthrie, Sexton, Wilcox, Talcott, 
Collin, Hubbard, Hall, Lynde, Mudge, Rexford, Woods, Case, 
Kenyon, Gardiner, Smith and Knowles. Then they passed on to 
Norwich, the county seat of Chenango county. The Chenango 
valley has ever been distinguished for its pastoral beauty, its fiocks 
and herds, soft meadows and rich pastures, and for its fruits and 
orchard products. Never did it appear more lovely. Uncle Jonas 
was eloquent in his words of admiration of the scenery, the villages 
and towns. He had formerly had acquaintances in very many 
towns in Chenango county at Smyrna, Sherburne, Norwich, Ox- 
ford, Greene, Bainbridge and other localities, and many of the 
early settlers of Chemung and Steuben counties in New York, and 
Bradford and Tioga in Pennsylvania were natives of that grand 
old county. Uncle Jonas had made their acquaintance both in a 
business and social way, and recalled their names with as much 
familiarity as those of his native county of Chemung. In addition 
to the names already given, there were the names of Tracy, MoneU, 
Hubbard, Brooks, Boynton, Bush, Shepard, Weaver, Whitney, 
Bowen, Truman, Whittenhall, Root, Clark, Welch, Mitchell, 
Graves, Squires, Patterson, Warren, Olney, Campbell, Franklin, 
Hatch, Purdy, and a fist of others which might be continued 
indefinitely. 

Norwich dates its organization and incorporation away back to 
the year 1816. Until the Chenango canal was constructed, which 
occuri-ed some sixteen years later, it was a mere hamlet with only 
the river and the common wagon road as an outlet- The construc- 
tion of the canal gave it an impetus which soon however seemed 
to relapse. But being the county seat of a rich and populous 
county, it held its own and slowly but surely increased in wealth 
and population. It is now quite a railroad center, and being sur- 
rounded by a rich agricultural country, its future is indead very 
promising. Its population is now about seven thousand. They 
call on old friends in Oxford and Greene, Chenango Forks and 
Bainbridge and spend a few hours at each place very pleasantly. 
They then go by the way of Binghamton to Owego and at the 



177 

latter place take the Southern Central for Auburn. The Southern 
Central railroad's southern terminus is at Sayre, connecting with 
the Lehigh VaUey railroad at that point. It runs eastward to 
Owego, and from thence almOst directly northward to Lake Ontario 
via FreeviUe, Groton, Auburn and Weedsport. The president of 
the road is the Hon. T. C. Piatt, of 82 Broadway, N. Y. It is con- 
ducted in an admirable manner. Uncle Jonas and Harry were 
comfortably seated and away they sped over the high lands and 
vaUeys of northern Tioga, eastern and southern Tompkins, cross- 
ing the Elmira, Cortland and Northern at Freeville, a few miles 
east of Ithaca, thence to Groton, one of the most enterprising 
incorporated villages in Tompkins county. The air was soft and 
balmy, and through the courtesy of the conductor they were given 
favorable seats for observation. Uncle Jonas remarked that 
instead of becoming weary of these excursion it seemed that if the 
last he was to make was just as agreeable as the first, over eight 
months ago. It more firmly convinced him that there was no 
better way to spend a vacation than to do it on first-class railway 
trains by short rides. He should never again go to any more 
fashionable watering places and be crowded into narrow, over- 
heated, ill-ventilated rooms, but should take to the railroads, stop 
at good hotels where he could be cared for comfortably and where 
the scenes of the day were varied and diversified and not oae 
monotonous routine. They remained over night at Groton, and 
during the evening Uncle Jonas recalled many of the names of the 
old settlers with whom he was acquainted. Among them were 
Crittenden, Blodgett, Carpenter, Wright, Atwood, Ingall, Perrin, 
Widiams, Clark, Leonard, Beach, Hinman, Luther, Whipple, 
Dean, Blood, Laad, Hale and others. He also spoke of visitiog 
Groton academy fifty or more years ago. 

The next morning after partaking of a most excellent breakfast, 
they again take the Southern Central for Auburn — passing through 
the villages of Locke and Moravia, arriving at Auburn in due season. 
Auburn is now a city containing about 25,000 inhabitants and 
could Oliver Goldsmith again be called back to earth and view the 
city of Auburn in the year of our Lord 1886 and be told how his 
lines concerning the ' ' deserted village " had been the cause for the 
christening a beautiful country village in far off America, which 
instead of becoming " deserted" had blossomed into a growing and 
prosperous city, the odd Irish poet would " weep with joy." The 
conductor on the Southern Central had been very obliging and kind 
to Uncle Jonas and he very reluctantly parted company with him 
at Auburn. 

After viewing from the outside the walls and structure of the 
Auburn prison, they stroUed about the city for two hours or more 
admiring its elegant churches, seminaries, schools and public 
building and the costly mansions, cosy cottages, industrial estab- 
hshments and capacious stores, they take a train on the New York 
Central and run up to Geneva, passing through Cayuga, Seneca 
Falls and Waterloo. 

At Geneva they stop at the FrankUn house, one of the historic 
hotels of the country, for dinner. Uncle Jonas wanted to take 
one more ride on the crystal waters of Seneca Lake, and therefore 



178 

after dinner they go down to the landing and step on board of one 
of the very elegant steamers that ply on that lake between Geneva 
and Watkins. The trip was made in less than four hours. They 
were given a very convenient position for viewing the scenery on 
either side of the lake, and never did two men enjoy voyage better 
than they. They had been, as the reader recollects, over the line 
of the Syracuse, Geneva and Corning railroad, operated by the 
Fall Brook Coal Company, which for a number of miles conmiands 
a view of the lake, but now they wanted to ride upon the lake and 
observe the landscape from the upper deck of the steamer. It will 
be remembered that the course of the lake is nearly north and 
south, and that like the Cayuga, the lands are cultivated down 
close to the shore. The banks rise from the shore until they grad- 
ually reach the altitude of two hundred and fifty feet or more two 
miles distant from the water. Nature could not have constructed 
a more convenient place for the planting of gardens and vineyards 
or for the perfection of agriculture in all its various branches. 
Uncle Jonas was familiar with every point, and related his experi- 
ence in navigating the waters of the Seneca fifty years ago, or 
more. It seemed to him as if "the best wine for the feast had 
been reserved for the last," so well did he enjoy the trip. A gentle 
breeze was blowing from the west, but not so strong as to disturb 
the water to any extent, and the boat moved proudly upon the 
water. At times the old gentleman would be silent, gazing upon 
the beautiful, constantly-changing banks, and then he \\ ould nar- 
rate some incident, some Indian tradition or some fact connected 
with General Sullivan's expedition against the Six Nations, or per- 
chance some story concerning the early boat captains who ran the 
Richard Stevens or Canaseraga. 

They liad chosen a propitious time. The apple, peach and plum 
orchards were in full bloom, the wheat fields and meadows were 
green, and the forest trees in the numerous smaU groves were clad 
in their spring attire. Beautiful farm-houses were half-hidden by 
the orchards and groves which surrounded them, while cottages 
were faintly discernible hid away among arbors and vines. It was 
Uke passing through fairyland, so soft and beautiful was the scene 
spread out before them. The sun and fleecy scattering clouds with 
the great vault of blue beyond lent enchantment to the scene and 
formed the setting of the picture. The boat was going nearly 
south. The sun had crossed the meridian, and the fleecy clouds 
swept leisurely across the lake from the west to the east for a few 
moments obscuring the sun from view. Then the long shadows 
would cover a grove, a vineyard or a green field, which would 
change their appearance. By and by the clouds would pass away 
and the fields and groves which had been overshadowed would 
again appear in the sunlight more beautiful, if possible, than at 
first. 'Tis thus in life. Beautiful characters are often overshad- 
owed by clouds of reverses and misfortunes, and many times by 
malice ; but the sunlight of truth at length shines out and they 
stand forth again in all their dignity and manhood. 

At length our voyagers land at Watkins, and reach Elmira in 
safety, by the Northern Central railway, having enacted their pro- 
gramme to the letter. 



1T9 

After arriving home, Uncle Jonas and Harry were comfortably 
seated in the sitting room, when Uncle Jonas said : "Harry, you 
have been a kind and obliging nephew ; you have accompanied me 
on all my tours for the past eight months or more. No period of 
my life have I passed away so pleasantly, and I may add so bene- 
ficially to my health, as the months spent with you. I must go to 
Chicago day after to-morrow. I must call on some friends with 
whom I have met since I came here, and some whom I have not 
met, among the latter, Rufus King, esq., who I learn has lived 
here more than forty years, and was a great friend of Col. Hatha- 
way, and there are some others. I shall go to Chicago, as I state. 
These towns have furnished me food for reflection, and Avill buoy 
me up and stimulate me for some time to come, but I am not sat- 
isfied. A few of my old friends I have neglected to call upon, not 
intentionally, on my part, but because their names had slipped 
from my memory. Forty-five years, Harry, is a long while, espe- 
cially when added to the age of a man when he has arrived at 
thirty, and I want you to say to my old friends, wherever they 
may be found, that I thank them for their courtesies and civil 
treatment, and if my health permits, and God grant that it will, I 
shall return to the city and county of my birth and again go out 
over mountain and vale and seek for those whom I have over- 
looked. I shall expect you to accompany me, your business per- 
mitting." 

" My dear Uncle, I am happy to know that you are well pleased 
with your visit, and should you come again, I sliall hold myself at 
your service. I am under obligations to you for the opportunities 
afforded me to enjoy your conversations upon former times." 



These letters, containing Uncle Jonas Lawrence's reminiscences, 
created so much interest when jDublished in the Elmira Weekly 
Advertiser that it was thought best to gather them in book form. 
The data and the historical statements given in these accounts may 
be relied upon as correct, and therefore, as a book of reference, as 
well as general reading, it will be found in every library through- 
out this section of country. It is possible^, as intimated above, 
that Uncle Jonas may at some future time renew his acquaint- 
ance with the readers of the Elmira Advertiser. 



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